Opposition parties in West Bengal stage walkout on farmers' suicide issue

KOLKATA:Protesting against not being allowed to discuss in the Assembly the issue of alleged suicides by farmers in West Bengal, Opposition Left Front and Congress today staged walkouts.

Both the opposition parties had raised issues relating to farmers including alleged suicides by them but were not allowed by Speaker Biman Banerjee.

Shouting slogans seeking a statement from the West Bengal government on alleged suicides by potato farmers, Congress MLAs demonstrated in the well of the House before staging a walkout.

The LF members also walked out of the House separately after they were not allowed to discuss the issue.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, CPI(M) member Anisur Rahaman said farmers in the state are in distress as they are not getting the minimum prices for their produce.

Congress leader Md Sohrab told reporters that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should accept that farmers have committed suicide in the state.