Parliament security breach a serious matter…no links with Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Mamata said, “The Parliament security breach is a serious matter. There was a great lapse. The Union Home Minister has already admitted that. Let them investigate it.”

In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on Wednesday, two men jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow-coloured smoke from canisters and raised slogans, before being overpowered by the MPs. Delhi police have arrested six persons in connection with the case. One of them, Lalit Mohan Jha, who is a native of Bihar’s Darbhanga district, had been living in Kolkata for nearly two decades.

Jha’s arrest triggered a war of words between the TMC and the BJP, with Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari alleging that the accused was linked to the ruling party’s youth wing. The TMC, however, dismissed the allegation.

Addressing the issue, the CM said, “He (Jha) had connections with Bihar and Jharkhand, but not with West Bengal. Our state’s name is being unnecessarily dragged in the matter. Even the Union Ministry admitted lapses in the security system. All we want is a thorough investigation by an independent agency. We don’t believe in making irresponsible statements. Everyone should keep this in mind. It was an attempt to malign Bengal’s image just like they (Opposition) do so often. We don’t support any criminal act.”

Talking about party MP Derek O’ Brien’s suspension from the Rajya Sabha for the remainder of the winter session earlier this week, the TMC chief claimed that members of the Opposition who raised their voice over the breach issue were suspended. “Derek O’Brien (TMC MP), and 14 other opposition MPs were suspended from Parliament for this,” she said.

Accusing the Centre of “stopping” funds for West Bengal’s medical schemes because it wants all health centres to be painted saffron, she said, “The Prime Minister has given me an appointment at 11am on December 20. They (Centre) have stopped funds for the health department. They want all health centres to be painted saffron. Why should we do that? Blue and white is the official colour of our state. These are not political colours,” the CM said

“Do we have to use the BJP’s colour everywhere? They will decide what people will wear and what they will eat. They will change syllabuses and put rubbish in it. All this is part of a well-devised plan to disturb the minds of people. We are raising our voices. We will raise these issues,” she added.

“You can see all the Metro stations are being painted saffron. I was surprised to see that all houses in Sukna in Siliguri have been painted saffron. We will raise our voices on this as well,” she said.

She alleged that the Centre has stopped releasing funds under various welfare schemes only for West Bengal. “Bengal is the only state where funds have stopped coming. They (Centre) stopped funds for the Banglar Bari housing scheme after sanctioning 11,00,000 houses. They are not giving us our share of GST. I met the Prime Minister earlier also to discuss these. Abhishek Banerjee staged agitations in Delhi. I also staged an agitation at the state legislative Assembly,” Mamata said.

Reacting to the CM’s allegations, state BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “If Mamata Banerjee sees BJP in the saffron colour then tomorrow she may make the same accusation against the Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha whose offices and buildings are also saffron. The Centre wants uniformity in health services across the country. The Centre has set strict guidelines and rules for this.”

– With PTI inputs