Kolkata, 18 February (H.S.) : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, staged a sit-in protest inside the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday. The demonstration was aimed at protesting against the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s alleged appeasement politics. The BJP leaders accused the state government of stopping Saraswati Puja in educational institutions and failing to prevent attacks on Hindu festivals.

Around 30 BJP MLAs were seen sitting on the steps of the Assembly’s main entrance, chanting slogans such as Murti Bhangar Sarkar, Aar Nei Darkar (We don’t need a government that allows idol destruction). The protest came a day after four BJP MLAs—Suvendu Adhikari, Agnimitra Paul, Bankim Ghosh, and Bishwanath Karak—were suspended from the Assembly for unruly behavior.

Speaking to the media, Suvendu Adhikari stated, We are not against any community. But this government has failed to stop the desecration of Hindu deities. In recent days, idols of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Kartik have been vandalized in various parts of Bengal, yet the government remains silent.

He also targeted the government over Saraswati Puja restrictions, claiming, Saraswati Puja is being prevented in schools and colleges, and the government is watching silently without taking action against the culprits.

Suvendu Adhikari announced that BJP MLAs would hold a parallel session outside the Assembly to raise public issues against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. He asserted, This government is trying to suppress Hindu festivals, but we will not let that happen.

Reacting to his suspension and TMC’s plan to bring a privilege motion against him, Adhikari said, I have been suspended three to four times before. Several privilege motions have been moved against me because I continue to oppose this government’s appeasement politics, corruption, and attack on democracy. But they cannot silence me.

Hindusthan Samachar / S P Singh