Agartala: Mar 25: The Tripura Legislative Assembly witnessed intense exchanges during its budget session, following caste-related remarks made by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister. The controversy unfolded over three days, drawing sharp reactions from opposition members.
On the second day of the session, CPM legislators strongly criticized the Minister for comments perceived as targeting the Leader of the Opposition on caste grounds. They demanded an apology and staged a brief protest in the well of the house before walking out.
The issue originated the previous day when the Leader of the Opposition extended his discussion on the proposed budget. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister intervened, leading to a heated exchange. In frustration, the Leader of the Opposition threw papers on the table, prompting the Minister to criticize this behavior and make remarks referencing the Communist leader’s caste. These comments sparked outrage among opposition members.
On the third day, CPM legislator Shyamal Chakraborty revisited the issue, condemning the Minister’s remarks as unacceptable and calling for a retraction. The Speaker attempted to maintain order, emphasizing that such topics should not be raised in the Assembly. The Minister accused the CPM of provocation, while the Leader of the Opposition described the Minister’s behavior as “hooliganism,” a term the Speaker requested to be withdrawn. The opposition subsequently staged another protest and walked out.
The incident has highlighted tensions within the Assembly, with calls for decorum and mutual respect in parliamentary proceedings.
