Opposition strongly condemned the remarks made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ratan Lal Nath: stages protest

Agartala, Mar 25, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: Mar 25: On the second day of the budget session, the CPM (Communist Party of India - Marxist) legislators strongly condemned the remarks made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ratan Lal Nath, against the Leader of the Opposition, Jitendra Choudhury, accusing him of attacking the Opposition leader on caste grounds. The CPM demanded a formal apology from the Minister and staged a brief protest in the well of the house before walking out in protest.

The controversy began on the first day of the budget session when the Leader of the Opposition, Choudhury, extended his discussion on the proposed state budget. In response, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister intervened, triggering a heated exchange between the two. Choudhury, visibly frustrated, threw papers on the table, which led to further verbal altercations. In the midst of this, Minister Nath made remarks questioning Choudhury’s caste identity, which many found offensive and discriminatory, sparking outrage within the opposition ranks.

On the third day of the session, CPM legislator Shyamal Chakraborty again raised the issue, criticizing Nath’s comments as entirely unacceptable. He demanded a formal retraction and apology. However, Speaker of the Assembly, Biswabandhu Sen, attempted to maintain order, stating that caste-related issues were not to be discussed in the legislative proceedings. The Minister defended his remarks, accusing the CPM of trying to provoke a controversy. In response, Choudhury called the Minister's actions "hooliganism," a term that the Speaker asked him to withdraw.

The tension escalated, and once again, the opposition staged a protest and walked out of the House, signaling their continued dissatisfaction with the Minister's behavior. This episode has heightened tensions between the ruling party and the opposition, with the CPM seeking accountability for what they deem to be an insult to both their leader and their party.