West Bengal: TMC To Bring 'Anti-Division' Resolution In Assembly Amid BJP Leaders' Demand For Separate Union Territory

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay said on Sunday that this resolution will be brought under Rule 185 of the legislative assembly, with a two-hour discussion ahead of its passing. The decision to bring this resolution was made in last Tuesday's meeting of the Assembly's Business Advisory Committee. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also participate in the discussion on this proposal.

BJP Gearing Up For Tough Day

On the other hand, the main opposition BJP in the state is also gearing up for the much-anticipated finale of the legislative assembly. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari will also participate in the discussion on this proposal. A heated day is expected as both the ruling Trinamool and the opposition BJP will try to corner each other over this proposal.

On Monday, the last day of the session, the proceedings of the House will start at 10 AM instead of 11 AM. Apart from this proposal, a bill will also be introduced by the state government in the assembly for the establishment of the state's first Skill Knowledge and Fashion University in Siliguri, North Bengal.

MC Accuses BJP of Double Standards

Minister Chattopadhyay said that BJP leaders, MPs, and MLAs continuously talk about the demands for the division of Bengal outside. They (BJP MLAs) will have to clearly state in the assembly whether they are in favour of or against the division of Bengal. The double standards of BJP MLAs on this issue will be exposed.

Proposal Passed Last Year Too

It is worth mentioning that this is the third time a proposal against the division of the state has been brought in the Bengal Assembly. Last year too, Trinamool accused the BJP of conspiring to divide Bengal and passed a proposal against the division in the assembly.

Earlier last week, Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, speaking in the assembly, strongly objected to the recent demands of some BJP leaders regarding the division of Bengal and directly challenged the Center. Mamata said that the Center can put in all its efforts, but she will not allow the division of Bengal at any cost.

BJP Leaders Raised the Demand

Jharkhand BJP MP Nishikant Dubey recently demanded the creation of a new Union Territory by dividing some districts of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Bengal. BJP MLA Gauri Shankar Ghosh from Murshidabad supported Dubey's demand.

Additionally, Bengal BJP President and Union Minister of State for Education and North Eastern Development, Sukanta Majumdar, recently proposed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include the districts of North Bengal in the North Eastern Ministry or Council. Trinamool strongly objected to this. It is worth noting that the demand to make North Bengal a separate state continues to arise.

Suvendu Said - We Are Against the Division of Bengal

In response to being asked about this proposal, Leader of the Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari said that his party's stance has always been clear that they are against any division of Bengal. However, the situation in the border areas is concerning. We need to stop the infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas from Myanmar. If this is not stopped, the demography of the border areas will change, and Hindus will migrate. He accused the state government of neglecting North Bengal and said that he would speak in the assembly about what they had to say on this proposal.