Congress, CPI(M) question TMC over walking out during voting on Kashmir issue
Kolkata: The Congress and the CPI(M) on Tuesday questioned TMC's sincerity in opposing Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill as Trinamool MPs staged a walkout in Rajya Sabha instead of voting against the bill.
They charged Mamata Banerjee's party with helping the BJP and alleged that the walkout proved "double standards" of the Trinamool Congress.
"If they were really opposed to the bill, they should have voted against the bill. Instead they staged a walkout during the voting. Indirectly they helped the BJP. This only proves the double standards of TMC," West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra told reporters here.
"This is not the first time such a thing has happened. In last five years, there are several examples they had done similar things to help BJP pass the bill," he said.
Mitra's comment comes in the backdrop of Trinamool Congress's opposition to the reorganisation bill but staging a walkout in Rajya Sabha during a voting on the bill on Monday. Banerjee has justified the walkout, saying it did not mean the party facilitated the passage of the bill.
Mitra's comment was echoed by senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty.
"She has been doing this for last five years. We are not bothered about it. They want to support BJP but can't do it in open. So they are taking this route. This is nothing but double standard of TMC," he said.
On Monday, the Rajya Sabha passed the bill to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The government also revoked provisions of Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
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7 held in election-related violence in Assam: Police
Guwahati, Apr 9 (PTI) Seven people were held in connection with election-related violence at two places in Assam, officials said on Thursday.
Besides, minor clashes also erupted at several polling booths after voting began in the morning, with people suffering minor injuries, they said.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Akhilesh Kumar Singh, told PTI that violence took place in Tamulpur and Sivasagar on Wednesday night, hours before polling began for the assembly elections at 7 am.
"We got reports of a clash between two groups at Tamulpur last night. Police reached the spot immediately and tried to control the crowd. When they did not listen, a few rounds were fired in the air to disperse the mob," he said, adding that four people were arrested from the site.
In another incident, two to three members of a political party were attacked in Sivasagar, the IG said.
"We have detained three persons there. The investigation is going on," he said.
Akhil Gogoi, who is seeking re-election from the Sibsagar seat, alleged that BJP nominee Kushal Dowari was behind the incident.
In a series of social media posts, Gogoi claimed two people were injured, and their vehicles were also damaged in the attack.
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Executive Member Hagrama Mohilary said a detailed enquiry will reveal the cause of the clash in Tamulpur.
"The situation is normal now. We are monitoring it, and there is enough security presence to avoid any untoward incident," he said.
Polling is underway for the 126-member assembly to decide the electoral fate of 722 candidates. It will continue till 5 pm, with May 4 scheduled for the counting of votes.
A number of minor clashes have erupted at several polling stations in Sribhumi, Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
"Most of the clashes took place due to heavy rush, with people fighting over breaking the queue," an official said.
At some polling booths in places like Patharkandi, Merapani and Raha, supporters of ruling and opposition parties clashed, he said.
"However, police were already present in those areas, and the situations were handled instantly. The polling is going on uninterrupted," he added.
The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power in these elections, while the Congress is looking to reclaim the state it lost a decade ago.
