After a viral video of ruling BJP MLA Jadab Lal Debnath, who was allegedly watching porn on his mobile during assembly session, the opposition Tipra-Motha on Thursday demanded immediate resignation of the accused MLA, who has violated the sanctity of the assembly.

Addressing a press conference in Agartala on Thursday, opposition leader Animesh Debbarma strongly condemned the incident.

While, Jadab Lal Nath claimed that “obscene videos” had started playing inadvertently on his phone and the Speaker of the House Bishwabandhu Sen said  so far he did not receive any official complaint in this regard.

But I can’t pass any comments without verifying the reality of it. I have not received any written complaint. I can’t make any comments just on the basis of whatever is seen on social media,” said Sen and added that he would investigate the incident if he received a complaint.

A 54-second clip that went viral on social media purportedly showed Debnath watching porn on his mobile phone while Speaker Biswabandhu Sen spoke in the House. The Bagbassa assembly constituency MLA reacting over the viral video said that during assembly proceedings   he was getting repeated phone calls and he is very much aware that the use of mobile phones is prohibited in the Assembly. “I was getting repeated calls and after I picked up a call, obscene videos started playing on my phone. I turned them off soon after,”  said Debnath.

Criticizing the BJP MLA, opposition leader Animesh Debbarma said that all the legislators are responsible persons and their acts should not create a bad precedent for the others, especially the young generations. Debbarma demanded appropriate action against Debnath and sought the immediate intervention of the Assembly Speaker.

Opposition  CPI(M) and Congress also criticised Debnath and demanded severe action against him.

While, Animesh Debbarma said that the operation of mobile phones inside the Assembly is restricted. The MLAs should all concentrate on the proceedings and business of the House. Despite this, Debnath watched the porn video damaging the reputations of the House.

“The chair of Debnath should purified with ‘Ganga’ Jaal (holy water of river Ganga) and Jadab Lal Nath should not be allowed to sit in the same chair in future,”, said Animesh and claimed that considering similar events of shameful act reported from other assembly houses of the country, the speaker should act promptly and should suspend him. Debbarma also threatened that if the Speaker did not take any action against Debnath, then Tipra-Motha would organize statewide protest demonstrations demanding his resignation.

Debbarma said that when crimes against women such as rape were going unpunished in several cases, BJP MLAs watching porn in the Assembly sent a wrong message and tarnished the images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha. Animesh Debbarma also took a dig at Minister Ratan Lal Nath, who had advised opposition MLAs to learn mathematics from Debnath.

It may be recalled here that in 2012, Karnataka BJP MLA Laxman Savadi was caught watching porn on his mobile phone and had to resign but later went on to become the deputy chief minister. Shankar Chaudhury and Jetha Bharwad, two MLAs in Gujarat, were also found involved in similar incidents.