Owing to the blockade by the candidates carrying posters, several MLAs, including some state ministers, got stuck within the hostel premises for hours.
Later, a huge contingent led by senior officials of Kolkata Police reached the spot and forcefully took away the protesting candidates in front of the high-security zone.
Following the development, there was a minor scuffle between the policemen
and protesting candidates.
The development took place while the monsoon session of the West Bengal Assembly was on and hence the MLA hostel was full of legislators coming from different districts of the state.
The agitating candidates said that they had been protesting on the streets of Kolkata for over the last two years and there had been several sessions of the state Assembly during that period.
“But our matter was not discussed during a single session. Our question is why the ruling and opposition MLAs are so reluctant to take up our matter on the floor of the house,” said a protesting candidate.
Even the Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee mentioned the matter on the floor of the house on Wednesday.
“The MLAs and ministers are stuck at the MLA hostel because of the agitation in front of that hostel. Everyone has the right to protest. But any movement that paralyzes everything cannot be supported. I am asking the administration to look into the matter,” he said.
He also said that there might be some provocation behind the protest in front of the MLA hostel. “Such things should not be encouraged at any cost. I will see to it that such events are not repeated,” the Speaker added.
–IANS
src/shb
