Councillors of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP entered into a scuffle during the session of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. Asim Basu of the Trinamool Congress and Sajal Ghosh of the BJP are the two councillors. The atmosphere deteriorated to the point where KMC Chairperson Mala Roy had to short halt the session. The uproar erupted after it was discovered that the opposition BJP and Left Front had not submitted any questions or proposals for the session, despite statements from Roy and KMC Mayor Firhad Hakim, IANS reported.
Speaking about the brawl, BJP Councillor Sajal Ghosh stated: "We had brought a proposal one month back. That day MMiC (mayor-in-council members) was not there...In this regard, a complaint has been raised against the Mayor. A complaint has also been made to the Chief Minister. Today, we were attacked by TMC in the presence of the Mayor and Chairman," ANI reported.
"It is surprising that the opposition does not have questions for the season," Roy remarked. It was followed by the Mayor's statement that this is the state of the opposition in KMC. This drew harsh condemnation from Sajal Ghosh, the BJP councillor for Ward 50.
"What's the point in putting forward any question or proposal during a session? Do the ruling board members give any importance to the opposition?" he questioned.
Ghosh's words elicited heated reactions from Roy, who stated that she would not learn the role of resistance from him. "I was in opposition for a long time. I know how to function as an opposition. I will not take lessons from you in the matter," Roy was quoted by IANS in its report.
When Ghosh vehemently objected to Roy's remarks, Trinamool Congress councillor Asim Basu got into a furious argument with him, resulting in a brawl between the two. Roy called the meeting to a close for the time being. The other members later separated the two, and the session proceeded.
(With Inputs From Agencies)