The Hindu : National : Furore in West Bengal Assembly over "starvation deaths"

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Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

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Furore in West Bengal Assembly over "starvation deaths"

By Our Special Correspondent

KOLKATA, MARCH 15 . Opposition members walked out of the West Bengal Assembly today, accusing the Left Front Government of "indifference" to reports of starvation deaths in parts of the State. They, however, returned to the House later.

Immediately after question hour, the Speaker, Hasim Abdul Halim, rejected a notice for an adjournment motion by the Trinamool Congress MLA, Sonali Guha, who alleged that eight persons had died of starvation in the past few days in Jalangi area of Murshidabd district.

She also said that 25 more had taken ill in other parts of the district because they had had nothing to eat for more than a week. Ms. Guha demanded a statement from the Chief Minister.

The demand was disallowed by Mr. Halim. The Trinamool members then walked out of the House shouting slogans against the State Government's "apathetic" attitude.

They were led by Ms. Guha and Shovandeb Chattopadhyay, chief whip of the party in the Assembly.

Shortly after, Congress MLAs also walked out of the House. They were led by Asit Mitra who demanded that the Chief Minister make a statement on the alleged starvation deaths.

Five days ago, on the opening day of the budget session, members belonging to the Opposition created a din in the House in the course of the Governor's address, shouting slogans and displaying placards condemning the Government for its "lackadaisical attitude" towards reports of starvation deaths in certain parts of the State.

Discussions on the Governor's address began today with the Leader of the Opposition, Pankaj Banerjee, initiating the debate.

He criticised the State Government for "failing" to take cognisance of the starvation deaths.

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