No Question Hour in West Bengal Assembly's monsoon session, TMC govt accused of 'double standard'

West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, who is also from the TMC, said there will be no Question Hour in the upcoming monsoon session, which is scheduled to begin on Sept 9, due to the "paucity of time and the Covid-19 situation".

Calling out the ruling dispensation for its "double speak", CPI-M leader Md. Salim tweeted, "Height of doublespeak! You don't allow #QuestionHour where ministers have to stand up and answer Qs from MLAs and be held accountable. Stop throwing crumbs. This is (the) West Bengal legislative assembly, not your Nabanna!"

In a similar tone, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul told India Blooms, "Actually TMC represents double standards. It practices exactly opposite to what it preaches."

"People of West Bengal have pledged to teach the registered group of goons, named TMC, a lesson. No one is interested in this party. It will become irrelevant in parliamentary democracy after 2021," she added.

After the BJP government at the Centre had called no Question Hour in Parliament, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien had tweeted, "MPs required to submit Qs for Question Hour in #Parliament 15 days in advance. Session starts 14 Sept. So Q Hour cancelled ? Oppn MPs lose right to Q govt. A first since 1950 ? Parliament overall working hours remain same so why cancel Q Hour?Pandemic excuse to murder democracy." (sic)

"During the 33rd (1961), 93rd (1975), 98th (1976) 99th (1977) Sessions there was no Question Hour as these sessions were summoned for SPECIAL PURPOSES: Orissa, Proclamation of Emergency, 44th Amdmt, President’s Rule TN/Nagaland. The upcoming Monsoon Session is a REGULAR SESSION," he added in a separate tweet. (sic)