‘CPM plans to poison water’
The West Bengal government on Thursday alleged that the CPI(M) was hatching a conspiracy to kill people in the state.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee herself accused the CPI(M) of spreading rumours that water supplied from the Nodakhali water supply project in South 24 Parganas was poisoned.
“If any untoward incident happens in the state, then CPI(M) will be responsible for that,” the chief minister warned.
Reacting sharply, leader of Opposition Surjyakanta Mishra said: “The chief minister herself is the architect of rumours. Earlier also, as the Opposition leader she had said that the CPI(M) was trying to mix poison in the water in Tala reservoir.”
Earlier, making a statement in the House, state public health engineering minister Subrata Mukherjee said: “Around 15 lakh people in nine blocks in South 24 Parganas get water supply from Nodakhali arsenic water project. I was informed last night that a rumour was being spread from certain quarters that water was poisoned. The rumour was spread from the CPI(M) party offices.”
Endorsing this statement, the chief minister said: “Who else can spread this rumour? It was spread by you (read: CPM). I am shocked that only because a political party is out of power it can resort to such dangerous games. An inquiry will be conducted to find out who was behind the plot.”
Immediately, there was an uproar in the House. The Opposition Left Front raised noisy protests and demanded that the Speaker expunged the anti-CPI(M) remarks from the records of the proceedings. Dr Mishra wanted to raise a point of order, but Speaker Biman Banerjee did not allow him.
The Speaker, however, assured that he would examine the statement and if he found anything objectionable, he would expunge it.
Later, Mr Banerjee, however, declared he found nothing objectionable and so no portion of the statement would be expunged. Protesting this ruling, the Opposition staged a noisy walkout from the House.
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