Kolkata, 15 May (H.S.) : Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Maniktala, Tapas Roy, launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress during a discussion in the West Bengal Assembly on Friday following the election of the new Speaker.

Raising the issue of post-poll violence, Roy indirectly targeted Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee without naming him directly.

The discussion took place after BJP MLA Rathindra Bose was elected Speaker of the Assembly, when legislators from different parties were invited to address the House.

During his speech, Tapas Roy said the recent election was “not merely an election to form a government, but a dharma yuddha,” and congratulated those who emerged victorious in what he described as that battle.

At the beginning of his speech, Roy looked toward Trinamool legislators and remarked, “You have done enough already. Does it now look unpleasant to watch?” He later demanded a ban on anti-national slogans inside the Assembly and urged the Speaker to bring legislation if necessary to prohibit such slogans in the House.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was seen thumping his desk in support of Roy’s remarks.

Attacking the previous Trinamool government, Roy claimed, “West Bengal has now become free from curse, free from sin and free from fear.” Referring to allegations of post-poll violence, he alleged that had the Trinamool Congress returned to power, more than 150 BJP workers could have been killed and lakhs of party supporters forced to flee their homes.

Without directly naming Abhishek Banerjee, Roy alleged that “the all-India general secretary of an all-India party had threatened BJP candidates saying their bones would be broken.” Amid protests from Trinamool legislators, Roy said, “I have not taken anyone’s name. Let him come out now. BJP will do nothing; the people and the Trinamool itself will deal with him.”

Roy also asserted that if his name appeared in any case related to the 2021 post-poll violence, he should be sent to jail. He maintained that he had no involvement in any such incidents.

Notably, Tapas Roy was previously associated with the Trinamool Congress and had won the 2021 Assembly elections from Baranagar on a Trinamool ticket. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, however, he joined the BJP.

He concluded his speech with the slogans “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh