"We didn't break any rules, just walked out," says Agnimitra Paul on suspension of 4 BJP MLAs
Jun 23, 2025
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 23 : Reacting to the suspension of four BJP MLAs from the West Bengal Assembly, party leader Agnimitra Paul on Monday questioned the decision, stating that the legislators were elected representatives who faced action simply for walking out during the government's statement.
She asserted that no rules were violated and described the action as an attempt to suppress the Opposition ahead of the 2026 elections.
Speaking to ANI, Paul said, "We are people's representatives. The citizens of Asansol South have allowed us to come to this House by voting for us. The Speaker expunged the statement given by our members last Thursday. The reason for this was that we did not listen to the government's statement and walked out. Is such a rule written in the Assembly?"
The BJP MLA said that the decision to suspend her along with fellow legislators Deepak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, and Manoj Oraon was disproportionate and aimed at silencing the Opposition.
"This is a democratic country, we opposed it... We protested by standing at our place, we did not even tear papers, but the Speaker has suspended me and our party's Deepak Burman, Shankar Ghosh and Manoj Oraon for the entire session, but we will not be afraid... This fear of Mamata Banerjee is good, she should see in 2026 what happens next," She added.
Earlier today, Speaker Biman Banerjee suspended four BJP MLAs, Dipak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, and Manoj Oraon, for the remainder of the session inside the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
The suspension was followed by loud protests and slogan-chanting by the suspended MLAs during a discussion over the expunging of certain remarks made in the House earlier.
The disruption escalated quickly, leading to the Speaker suspending the MLAs.
"We were only exercising our right to protest, but marshals were called in and we were thrown out. The opposition is being continuously silenced and attacked inside the House," said one of the suspended MLAs while speaking to reporters outside the Assembly's main lobby gate.
