Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, a 10-time
MP who lost an election only once in his life time to Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in 1984 general election from Jadavpur, was felicitated on the occasion.
So were a former state Assembly Speaker Hashim Abdul Halim, who served as a speaker for a record 29 years, and eight senior-most legislators who had served eight terms or more in the state Assembly.
The eight senior-most legislators are: Kazi Abdul Gaffar, Gyan Singh Sohan Pal (Both belonging to Congress), Trinamool Congress leader and state panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee, Probodh Sinha of WBSP and Abdur Rezzak Mollah, Upen Kisku, Narayan Mukherjee (all belonging to CPI(M)) and Abdul Karim Chowdhury of Trinamool Congress.
Chowdury is presently a minister of state in the government.
In a significant speech in the light of being accused by some quarters of not tolerating dissenting voices, the chief minister said, "Today we are worshipping democracy. We believe in the government of the people, for the people by the people. Democracy is all about to speak for the people. We want the Assembly to function in an impartial manner and with due decency."
"We want to restore the past glory of Bengal. We want to build a golden Bengal. We want to show every one what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow," Mamata said. MORE