Bengal insulting federal structure by barring PM’s speech: Babul Supriyo

Kolkata, Sep 11 (IANS) Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Monday accused the West Bengal government of "insulting" the federal structure and "hurting" the sentiments of the state's people by refusing to direct state-run varsities to follow the UGC circular on viewing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address.

"Democracy is being murdered here. The Prime Minister's speech is not allowed to be shown at the state-run colleges and universities. This is an insult to the federal structure. Are such practices expected from the chief minister of a state?" he asked.

Supriyo also criticised the leaders of the state's ruling Trinamool Congress for attacking the Prime Minister and using inappropriate language.

"The directions of a government may be against a person, but the way someone in the position of Prime Minister is being criticised and attacked in inappropriate language everyday, is hurting the sentiment of thousands of people from the state," he alleged.

Responding to a question on th state government's proposal to rename West Bengal as 'Bangla', the Union Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises said the proposal is being discussed by the centre, and such changes cannot be done overnight.

"The centre has received Bengal government's proposal about renaming West Bengal as Bangla in all three languages. It is also being discussed. But I cannot say what is the exact status of the proposal," he said.

"Changing the name of a state cannot be done overnight. It takes time as the centre has to go through a standard procedure," he added.