BJP, TMC face off over playing of state song during Budget

West Bengal Assembly’s budget session Thursday started on a chaotic note after BJP MLAs protested over the state song being sung in the House instead of the National Anthem.

According to reports, Speaker Biman Banerjee instructed officials to play the state song “Banglar Mati Banglar Jal” before the  session. While the state song was playing, BJP MLAs stood up and started singing the National Anthem simultaneously. Later, they also raised slogans.

After the state song ended, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, “Generally, the National Anthem is played after the Budget speech, but they (BJP) did not know the courtesy. They insulted the motherland. We condemn this.”  BJP MLAs continued their protest as state Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya read her budget speech. The CM again stood up and criticised the Opposition camp. “Are you not ashamed for behaving in this manner? They should remember that Parliament had suspended 147 Opposition MPs. But I don’t want to go in that direction. I am not afraid of them. People should see their (BJP MLAs’) actions. They don’t want the betterment of the state,” she said.