A Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA on Monday snatched the ceremonial mace of Tripura Legislative Assembly speaker from his table and left the House to abruptly stall the proceedings.
TMC MLA Sudip Roy Barman was protesting against speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath's refusal to allow the House to discuss a sex scandal allegedly involving Tripura Forest and Rural Development Minister Naresh Jamatia.
TMC and Congress MLAs have been demanding Jamatia's resignation for his alleged involvement in the sex scandal.
On Monday, TMC and Congress MLAs had entered the well of the House following the question hour to raise slogans against Jamatia and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. It was after Tripura Law Minister Tapan Chakraborty refused to let the House discuss the scandal saying that the matter was "sub-judice." Then, suddenly Barman seized the speaker's ceremonial mace and left the House in an abrupt manner.
The Marshal, along with the Watch-and-Ward staff, followed Barman and brought the mace back following which the speaker went to his chamber, according to local media reports.
Jamatia, along with RSP Councillor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Mrinmoy Sen, has been accused of molesting a seven-year-old girl. Sen was arrested by police and later released on bail. Jamatia has denied the allegations.
"Barman raised a womanising issue during Zero Hour without any prior notice. Then the opposition members came to the well of the house and started shouting slogans. Suddenly, Barman ran out of the house with the mace. He should not have done it," speaker Debnath told reporters.
"I am ashamed. Roy Barman is a senior member of the house. What message has he given to his juniors?" Debnath told the Times of India.
Barman, however, said that he was just trying to attract the attention of the speaker so that the scandal could be discussed in the House.
#WATCH: TMC MLA snatches Speaker's mace in Tripura Assembly (Agartala) (19.12.16) pic.twitter.com/a4Am80GLD6
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 20, 2016
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