“Party that banks on nationalism insults national anthem”: TMC targets BJP

Trinamool Congress Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay (Photo/ANI)

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 30 (ANI): TMC leader and West Bengal Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay on Thursday took a dig at the BJP by saying that the party that garners votes in the name of nationalism insults the national anthem for the second consecutive time.

“The party which talks of nationalism and garners votes in the name of nationalism insults the national anthem even today,” the West Bengal Minister said in a press conference on Sunday.

Chattopadhyay alleged that even after some BJP MLAs caused disturbances in the Assembly when the national anthem was being played on Wednesday, the same incident was repeated on Thursday as well.

“Yesterday, we had complained to the Speaker that when the National Anthem was going on they were protesting and passing derogatory comments. They know about this complaint. Even today I have heard that when the National Anthem started they clanked plates and raised slogans,” the Minister said.

“Even today we have complained to the Speaker about their action. He has sent it to the police…We have got 7-8 names,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Kolkata Police registered an FIR against 12 BJP legislators for allegedly “insulting” the national anthem.

The BJP has been protesting in the Assembly against the ruling Trinamool Congress on the premises of the state legislative assembly for suspending their Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari from the Assembly. They were beating utensils to demonstrate against the ruling TMC, which on the other side was protesting against the BJP.

Adhikari was suspended earlier, on Wednesday, for allegedly making “objectionable remarks” against Speaker Biman Banerjee.