Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari faces privilege motion over "communal" and "govt of terrorists" remarks | Watch

A privilege motion has been moved against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari in the West Bengal Assembly following his controversial remarks where he described the state government as "communal" and referred to it as a "government of terrorists." The motion was introduced by Chief Whip Nirmal Ghosh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim, and Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.

Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay confirmed that Adhikari had delivered a "provocative" speech, and emphasized that the Assembly should not be considered weak. The Speaker also urged Adhikari to issue a public apology. This development follows an uproar in the Assembly on Monday when Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay refused to permit a motion raised by the BJP-led Opposition regarding alleged restrictions on Saraswati Puja celebrations in the state.

In response to the Speaker’s action, Adhikari and three other BJP MLAs — Agnimitra Paul, Bishwanath Karak, and Bankim Ghosh — were suspended from the Assembly for 30 days. The suspension has drawn sharp reactions from the BJP, who claim that it is a targeted move to silence vocal opposition members. Reacting to the suspension, Adhikari stated, "We are the only opposition. The House belongs to the Opposition. We have won on Hindu votes. We will raise our voices for them. This government is a minority’s government, it is anti-Hindu."

He also criticized the Speaker, calling him "useless" and accusing the Chief Minister of avoiding direct confrontation by having BJP MLAs suspended. On the suspension of MLA Bishwanath Karak, the BJP clarified that he was not present in the House when the motion was moved.

The party suggested that Karak could address the issue by going to the Privilege Committee. Meanwhile, BJP legislators continued to raise slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” in the Assembly premises, accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of being "anti-Hindu" and retaliating against their vocal opposition.