In a rare show of unanimity amid a daggers-drawn-out atmosphere the Bengal Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution against any attempt to partition the State.
The development comes days after BJP leader Nishikant Dubey proposed declaring minority-dominated districts of Murshidabad and Malda a Union Territory while his party colleague and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar demanded inclusion of North Bengal districts into North East Council to facilitate its development --- circuitously pouring fuel to demands of partitioning the State. Opposition BJP has a greater organisatinoal base in North Bengal.
The resolution was discussed for the past two-three days and passed on Monday with Chief Minister telling the House that she and her Government would never allow partition of Bengal.
We believe in cooperative federalism. We are opposed to any attempt to divide the state, the Chief said while speaking on the motion. With little maneuvering space Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, offered support but proposed adding one line we want overall development of united West Bengal before insisting his party too was against dividing the State.
We are against any attempt to divide West Bengal he said even as the Chief Minister accepted his proposal leading to the unanimous passing of the resolution.
The resolution which was moved under Rule 185 finally read “we will protect Bengal without demanding any division” and “We will work for the development in Bengal.”
Adhikari subsequently said that there was no question of any deviation or any difference because the BJP had always stuck to its stand demanding development of the State.
“We have always said that our party is against dividing Bengal and so we supported the resolution … rather we got our demand included for an alround development of the State,” he said.