Derek O’Brien had accused the government of using the pandemic as an excuse to “murder democracy”
Calcutta:
There will be no question time at the two-day monsoon session in Bengal next week and the state’s ruling party has been accused of “double standards” as it had fiercely protested a similar decision by parliament.
“There will be no question time during the next monsoon session due to time constraints and the current COVID-19 situation,” spokesman Biman Banerjee said, according to the ANI news agency.
MPs from Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress, including Derek O’Brien and Mahua Moitra, had criticized the BJP-led central government for the decision to cancel Question Time in the 18-day parliamentary session that began on September 14.
Height of double talk! You do not allow #QuestionHour where ministers have to stand up and answer MLA questions and be held accountable.
Stop throwing crumbs. This is the West Bengal legislative assembly, not its Nabanna! https://t.co/0L8FxFjxFKpic.twitter.com/XeHSPiY6sl
– Md Salim (@salimdotcomrade) September 4, 2020
Responding to allegations of hypocrisy, Derek O’Brien, a member of Rajya Sabha, said: “No session of parliament of less than five days has had an hour of questions. The only exception is the 1962 China War. The session of Bengal lasts two days. Don’t compare apples and oranges. “
He also tweeted.
North Korea’s Godi TV comparing a “regular” 20 days #ParliamentMonsoonSession to a two-day session of a State Assembly! Sessions of a few days in #Parliament Never has #QuestionHour (Except for the 1962 China War). Don’t compare apples and oranges. Investigation. Or come to us for a tutorial. ????
– Derek O’Brien | ডেরেক ও’ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) September 4, 2020
After a large protest earlier this week from various opposition parties, including Congress, the government said it would allow “questions without stars,” that is, written questions that will receive written answers. Derek O’Brien had accused the government of using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to “murder democracy” and avoid answering questions about Covid and the economy.
His party’s Mahua Moitra, a deputy from Lok Sabha, had tweeted: “Asking questions in court is contempt Asking questions outside Parliament is sedition and now asking questions within Parliament is prohibited.”
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