Kolkata, June 29 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday issued a stern warning to Nowda's Janata Unnayan Party MLA Humayun Kabir on the floor of the Assembly, signalling imminent legal action against him for allegedly making inflammatory speeches and attempting to incite communal tension.

"Consider this carefully - this may be his last speech. Our primary agenda is to restore the rule of law in this state," Adhikari said, referring to one of Kabir's recent public addresses. With the Speaker's permission, Adhikari read out excerpts from two speeches allegedly delivered by Kabir and declared that the government would no longer tolerate what he described as "goondaraj".

He informed the House that two FIRs had already been registered against Kabir at Rejinagar and Bhaktipur police stations under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

"You had a weak chief minister and for years you said and did whatever you wanted. Mamata Banerjee is no longer the chief minister.

This will not continue anymore," Adhikari said. The Chief Minister alleged that Kabir's speeches were politically motivated. He claimed the MLA had first tried to bring elected panchayat representatives in Bharatpur, Rejinagar and Nowda under his political influence but failed.

He further alleged that Kabir was attempting to consolidate Muslim votes ahead of the expected by-election to the Rejinagar Assembly constituency, which he had vacated after winning from two seats.

"You want your son to win the Rejinagar bypoll.

Around 72 per cent of the electorate there is Muslim. You are playing this game to consolidate the Muslim vote," Adhikari alleged.

Warning Kabir against making similar remarks in future, Adhikari said: "Listen carefully. We will not allow you to issue threats or make reckless and irresponsible statements. Be restrained. Withdraw such remarks. Think 25 times before speaking in future."

Kabir denied targeting the Chief Minister. "I have not said anything against the Chief Minister. I spoke against those who joined the BJP after May 4 and have been creating unrest in the area. If I am arrested for that, so be it. I formed a new party by fighting these people and won," he said.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.