Trinamool-BJP in ugly House spat, Congress ruckus outside Gowda home

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders nearly came to blows with BJP leaders in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The members of West Bengal claimed the railway budget ‘neglected’ their state and the ugly spat almost turned into a scuffle before the House was adjourned.

The Congress, meanwhile, took their protest to the streets. They gathered in front of rail minister Sadananda Gowda’s 1, Tyagraj marg residence around 3pm. Things turned rowdy when Congress leader Mukesh Sharma removed the brass plaque outside Gowda’s house and stomped on it. Later they tried to stop Gowda’s car from entering the house before police pushed back the protestors.

An FIR was lodged against Congress Delhi unit chief Arvinder Singh Lovely and Sharma. Four workers were also detained.

Meanwhile after the House scuffle, TMC chief whip Kalyan Banerjee — who regularly leads the party’s slanging match with other MPs — alleged that a drunk BJP MP threatened to beat them up and disrobe their woman MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar.

TMC’s agitation started in the morning. Trouble escalated in the afternoon when they tried to stall proceeding and BJP’s Hari Narayan Rajbhar (UP) entered into a heated exchange with Banerjee.

Sensing trouble, the Chair adjourned the House but a scuffle broke out after Rajbhar allegedly passed caustic remarks about TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.

“They used such filthy language,” said Dastidar. The BJP denied all allegations. The TMC has lodged a complaint with the Lok Sabha Speaker.

(With agency inputs)

First Published: Jul 09, 2014 00:52 IST