BJP skips all-party meeting on budget session of Bengal Assembly

Kolkata, Feb 2 (IANS) The legislative team of the BJP in West Bengal, including leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday remained abstained from the customary all-party meeting convened before the commencement of the budget session of the state Assembly starting February 5.Although no reaction has come from Adhikari or any of the BJP legislators for remaining absent from the meeting, Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay expressed his dissatisfaction over the absence of the leaders from the principal opposition party in the state.“Recently, I attended the All India Speakers’ Conference. Not a single Speaker there mentioned about the conspicuous and continuous absence of opposition legislators in the House. I agree with what the Prime Minister says about the presence of the opposition in the House. “I agree with the Prime Minister that the presence of opposition in the House ensures the sanctity of democracy.