Kolkata, May 15 -- Asserting that Opposition's voice would not be throttled, Chief Minister (CM) Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday said in Assembly that equal opportunities will be given to the legislators belonging to the Opposition parties during discussion.

Responding to allegations of post-poll violence and attacks on Trinamool Congress activists raised by Leader of the Opposition Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay in the West Bengal Assembly, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said his government has no information about anyone being displaced after the election results. He asserted that action would be taken only after proper verification of such allegations.

"The Leader of Opposition has appealed to the government to ensure the safe return of their party workers who were displaced. I do not have any specific information whether anybody has been displaced due to post-poll violence," Adhikari said. He added: "If anybody is displaced, the LoP can submit the list to the DGP. But any displaced person found involved in post-poll violence after the 2021 Assembly elections and whose names feature in the 12,500 police complaints registered at that time, will be sent to jail. Police and local MLAs will ensure the safe return of those who were not accused of unleashing violence after the 2021 results."

Speaking during the first session of the newly constituted Assembly, Chattopadhyay alleged that several people had been forced to flee their homes due to violence in different parts of the state after the Assembly elections. "Violence has been taking place in several places. Many people are homeless now. The government should take strict action," he said in the House.

Trinamool Congress MLAs also staged a brief walkout after BJP legislators raised "chor chor" slogans inside the Assembly. Opposition members were also absent during the Speaker's election but later returned to the House.

BJP MLA Tapas Roy said the Assembly has now become "fear-free" and criticised the Opposition over allegations of post-poll violence. As TMC legislators protested, Roy asked them to remain silent and concluded his speech with a "Jai Shri Ram" slogan.

ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique said violence after previous elections had created fear among people and alleged that Opposition voices were ignored earlier. He urged the government to ensure dignity and adequate space for Opposition parties to raise public issues in the House.

Regarding Adhikari's allegation that the former TMC government had suspended him from the Assembly for a long period during his tenure as Leader of the Opposition, former Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay and Chattopadhyay said the claim was incorrect and that adequate opportunities had been given to the Opposition, which was reflected in Assembly records.

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