Left Front accuses TMC Govt of violating norms

Kolkata, 16 Dec, 2011: West Bengal's Opposition Left Front today accused the Trinamool Congress government of violating constitutional and legislative norms and requested Governor MK Narayanan to withhold his consent on the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill.

"Several amendments to various clauses of the The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill 2011 were submitted by the opposition for consideration of the house. During debate on her deliberation in the house, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed with the amendment no 1, 5, and 14 moved by the opposition," a letter from the Left Front to the governor stated.

"Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee mentioned acceptance of the same, when the bill was placed in the house. During clause wise consideration, two of our amendments - number 5 in clause 5 and number 11 in the clause 25 - were passed by a voice vote and the speakers declared the amendments as part of the bill.

Opposition Left Front today urged Governor to withhold his consent to Gorkhaland Territorial Adminsitration (GTA) Bill, 2011. The LF in a memorandum to the governor said a portion of amendments of the bill passed in the Assembly was omitted in the Bill and the provision of Zila Parishad was inserted in it. The memorandum said. ''The manner in which the portion of amendments in the bill was passed in the House was omitted and the provision of Zila Parishad inserted is a serious breach of the provisions of the Constitution and tantamounts to breach of privilege of the members,'' it said. Alleging that there was 'a serious breach' of the provisions of Constitution, an 8-member Front delegation, led by Leader of the Opposition Suryakanta Mishra, submitted to the governor the memorandum requesting him to withhold his consent to the Bill for such time as may be required for proper rectification of the same.

Chatterjee moved the The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill, 2011 as settled in the assembly be passed and the speaker "announced that the bill as amended and settled is passed", the missive said. "Unfortunately, after going through a copy of the amended bill as settled, we notice that the aforesaid amendment number 5 moved by the leader of the opposition to clause 5 has been omitted," the letter said.

The LF delegation also drew Narayanan's attention to The LF delegation also drew Narayanan's attention to the West Bengal State Health Service (Amendment) Bill, placed in the House on December 14. ''It has come to our notice that an ordinance on the same issue was signed by you and promulgated on May 27, 2011. It is obligatory to lay the ordinance in the House in the next session of the House. ''After May 27, there were two sessions of the House, but the Ordinance was not laid. The Government has kept us in the dark,'' the memorandum said adding it was a gross violation of the Article 213(2)(a) of Constitution.

They delegates urged the governor to look into the allegations and take corrective measures to protect rights of the opposition. The Front delegation members included Subhas Naskar (RSP), Anandamoy Mondal (CPI), Paresh Adhikary (Forward Bloc), Biswanath Karak (Opposition chief whip), Probodh Sinha (DSP), Chand Mohammad (Samajwadi Party) and Anisur Rehman (CPI-M).