The Hindu : Congress, Trinamool members stage walkout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2004

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Congress, Trinamool members stage walkout

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, MARCH 9. Opposition members belonging to the Trinamool Congress and the Congress walked out of the West Bengal Assembly today protesting against the Speaker's decision to hold over a question meant for the State's Relief Minister, Hafiz Alam Sairani, who was not present. They, however, returned to take their seats after a while.

Later, the Speaker, H.A. Halim, told the House that though it was the duty of a Minister to reply to questions he was in no position to force an answer. Freedom of speech meant both the freedom to speak and not to speak.

The question that was held over related to the details of relief provided by the State Government to flood and drought victims in the State. The Speaker pointed out that the on-going budget session had been convened in an unusual situation with the Lok Sabha elections having been announced.

Members were in election mode and the Relief Minister had informed him earlier of his inability to be present in the House for the day.

The chief whip of the Trinamool, Sovendeb Chattopadhyay, said that at an all-party meeting held before the commencement of the session the Speaker had given the assurance that in such a brief session questions for oral answers would not be held over.

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Congress, Trinamool members stage walkout