Parliament erupted in protests over the deployment of the Indian Army at toll plazas across&nbsp;West Bengal with the state&#39;s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), &nbsp;accusing the federal government of &quot;sinister designs&quot; and the government maintaining that it was a routine exercise conducted in full knowledge of the local authorities.

The row started after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged yesterday that the Army was deployed at the behest of the federal government at 19 toll plazas in the state without taking her government into confidence.&nbsp;

Mamata Banerjee, who is camped at the state secretariat, has refused to budge from there until the army retreats across the West Bengal plazas.&nbsp;&quot;What happened that central government did not deem it necessary to discuss with state government before deploying Army. Army, which is there for the protection of people, is now being used for political purpose. They are now doing political work,&quot; the West Bengal chief minister alleged.

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The ruling party in the state of West Bengal has accused India&#39;s central government of deploying the army in various parts of the state. Calling it similar to a military coup. (WION)
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TMC leaders in both Houses alleged that neither the state government, nor local administration including police were taken into confidence nor was their permission sought before the exercise.

The main opposition Congress also asked the federal government how such an &quot;unprecedented move&quot; to carry out an army exercise was done without taking state government into confidence.

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called the military deployment a deliberate move by the federal government to humiliate Mamata Banerje for protesting the government&#39;s demonetisation policy.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar defended the government in the Lower House, Lok Sabha, terming the deployment a &quot;routine exercise not unique to West Bengal.&quot;&nbsp;

The minister said that a similar exercise was also being conducted in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, &nbsp;Meghlaya and Mizoram and similar operations had already been conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand last month.

The purpose of these exercises was to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that could be used during national emergencies, Parrikar said.

&quot;It is shocking that a Chief Minister is saying this. The Army&#39;s deployment was part of routine exercise which has been going on for several years, which has been going on for last 15-20 years. Even last year it was held on 
November 19 to 21,&quot; Parrikar said.

&quot;It was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an unnecessary controversy,&quot; he added. &quot;It was political frustration rather than projection of correct situation.&quot;

Parrikar also said that originally the exercise was planned for November 28-30 but was shifted to December 1 and 2 at the request of Kolkata Police as those dates were clashing with the protests against demonetisation.

&quot;Concerned officials were informed in West Bengal. The original date was fixed for November 28 to 30 but due to Bharat Bandh (all-India strike),&nbsp;the local police had advised the army to shift it to December 1 and 2,&quot; he said. &quot;Due to traffic congestion, the exercise is being done with the help of local police.&quot;

Trinamool Congress MLAs also staged protests outside the Governor&#39;s House in Kolkata demanding withdrawal of army from toll plazas.

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Trinamool Congress MLAs stage dharna outside Raj Bhavan demanding withdrawal of army from toll plazas. <a href="https://t.co/3raSWtfiSm">pic.twitter.com/3raSWtfiSm</a>
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(WION with inputs from agencies) 
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West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee alleged yesterday that the Army was deployed without taking her government into confidence

Parliament erupted in protests over the deployment of the Indian Army at toll plazas across West Bengal with the state's ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing the federal government of "sinister designs" and the government maintaining that it was a routine exercise conducted in full knowledge of the local authorities. The row started after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged yesterday that the Army was deployed at the behest of the federal government at 19 toll plazas in the state without taking her government into confidence. Mamata Banerjee, who is camped at the state secretariat, has refused to budge from there until the army retreats across the West Bengal plazas. "What happened that central government did not deem it necessary to discuss with state government before deploying Army. Army, which is there for the protection of people, is now being used for political purpose. They are now doing political work," the West Bengal chief minister alleged. The ruling party in the state of West Bengal has accused India's central government of deploying the army in various parts of the state. Calling it similar to a military coup. (WION) × TMC leaders in both Houses alleged that neither the state government, nor local administration including police were taken into confidence nor was their permission sought before the exercise. The main opposition Congress also asked the federal government how such an "unprecedented move" to carry out an army exercise was done without taking state government into confidence. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati called the military deployment a deliberate move by the federal government to humiliate Mamata Banerje for protesting the government's demonetisation policy. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar defended the government in the Lower House, Lok Sabha, terming the deployment a "routine exercise not unique to West Bengal." The minister said that a similar exercise was also being conducted in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Meghlaya and Mizoram and similar operations had already been conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand last month. The purpose of these exercises was to collect information on heavy vehicle movement that could be used during national emergencies, Parrikar said. "It is shocking that a Chief Minister is saying this. The Army's deployment was part of routine exercise which has been going on for several years, which has been going on for last 15-20 years. Even last year it was held on November 19 to 21," Parrikar said. "It was very unfortunate that army has been dragged into an unnecessary controversy," he added. "It was political frustration rather than projection of correct situation." Parrikar also said that originally the exercise was planned for November 28-30 but was shifted to December 1 and 2 at the request of Kolkata Police as those dates were clashing with the protests against demonetisation. "Concerned officials were informed in West Bengal. The original date was fixed for November 28 to 30 but due to Bharat Bandh (all-India strike), the local police had advised the army to shift it to December 1 and 2," he said. "Due to traffic congestion, the exercise is being done with the help of local police." Trinamool Congress MLAs also staged protests outside the Governor's House in Kolkata demanding withdrawal of army from toll plazas. Trinamool Congress MLAs stage dharna outside Raj Bhavan demanding withdrawal of army from toll plazas. pic.twitter.com/3raSWtfiSm — ANI (@ANI_news) December 2, 2016 × (WION with inputs from agencies)

Indian Parliament adjourned till December 5 after protests over army deployment at toll plazas

By-elections were held in six Indian states and one union territory today, the first since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government&#39;s move to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The elections were held for four Parliament and 10 assembly constituencies in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP won both the Nepanagar assembly seat and the Shahdol (reserved constituency) Lok Sabha seat with its candidate Gyan Singh defeating Cong rival Himadri Singh by a margin of over 60,000 votes.

Around 66 per cent people voted in the by-polls in Shahdol constituency while the turnout in Nepanagar was about 73 per cent.

In BJP-ruled Assam, the party is leading by a huge margin in the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat vacated by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. It is also leading by 4,835 votes in Baithalangso assembly seat, where an ex-Congress candidate fought.

In West Bengal, where by-elections were held for one assembly seat - Monteswar - and two Parliament seats - Coochbehar and Tamluk - all the seats were held by the Trinamool Congress of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Trinamool Congress candidates were way ahead of rivals in the vote count on Tuesday where by-polls were held on Saturday. Dibyendu Adhikari was declared elected from Tamluk Lok Sabha seat defeating his nearest rival CPM&rsquo;s Mandira Panda by 497,000 votes.

In Tamil Nadu, by-elections were held for three assembly seats which are all won by AIADMK candidates, who were in direct contest with rival DMK.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy of the Congress has won the Nellithope Assembly seat.

In Tripura, the CPI-M won both the assembly seats in Barjala and Khowai.

These were the first elections after the currency ban, over which the opposition has attacked the government.

(WION)

The BJP won all seats in Madhya Pradesh, Trinamool in West Bengal, CPI (M) in Tripura, and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu

By-elections were held in six Indian states and one union territory today, the first since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government's move to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The elections were held for four Parliament and 10 assembly constituencies in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP won both the Nepanagar assembly seat and the Shahdol (reserved constituency) Lok Sabha seat with its candidate Gyan Singh defeating Cong rival Himadri Singh by a margin of over 60,000 votes. Around 66 per cent people voted in the by-polls in Shahdol constituency while the turnout in Nepanagar was about 73 per cent. In BJP-ruled Assam, the party is leading by a huge margin in the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat vacated by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal. It is also leading by 4,835 votes in Baithalangso assembly seat, where an ex-Congress candidate fought. In West Bengal, where by-elections were held for one assembly seat - Monteswar - and two Parliament seats - Coochbehar and Tamluk - all the seats were held by the Trinamool Congress of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool Congress candidates were way ahead of rivals in the vote count on Tuesday where by-polls were held on Saturday. Dibyendu Adhikari was declared elected from Tamluk Lok Sabha seat defeating his nearest rival CPM’s Mandira Panda by 497,000 votes. In Tamil Nadu, by-elections were held for three assembly seats which are all won by AIADMK candidates, who were in direct contest with rival DMK. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy of the Congress has won the Nellithope Assembly seat. In Tripura, the CPI-M won both the assembly seats in Barjala and Khowai. These were the first elections after the currency ban, over which the opposition has attacked the government. (WION)

By-polls in 6 Indian states: Ruling parties retain most seats

Opposition today disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the fourth consecutive day today demanding discussion on demonetisation on a rule which entails voting forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for about 50 minutes soon after it assembled.

As soon as the House met, members of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, Left parties and the Aam Aadmi Party rushed to the Well of the House demanding a discussion on the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

Samjawadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Rashriya Janata Dal (RJD) stood in the aisles in solidarity with the other opposition members.

While AIADMK members were also on the aisles raising the issue of Tamil fishermen injured allegedly in firing by Sri Lankan Navy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was seen busy in his seat in an intimate discussion with AAP MP from Punjab Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Ignoring the slogan-shouting Opposition members, Speaker allowed the Question Hour to continue amidst noise.

When some Opposition members tried to bring a placard, denouncing the demonetisation move, in front of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was replying to a question related to his Ministry, the Speaker tried to intervene and asked the MPs not to disturb the Minister.

&quot;This is not good. Everyone will be shown on TV, but don&#39;t disturb the Minister. If you want to discuss something, raise it before the government. People are in pain, tell the government. But this is not the way to highlight people&#39;s grievances,&quot; Mahajan said asking them to return to their seats.

However, an unrelenting opposition continued to raise slogans.

The Speaker again appealed to the opposition to participate in the debate saying that the disruption of proceedings would not resolve the problem.

&quot;I am really pained. If you are people&#39;s representatives, you should stand by them,&quot; she said.

As pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon after 20 minutes of proceedings.

(PTI)

An unrelenting Opposition continued to demand a debate on the demonetisation of 500- & 1,000-rupee notes

Opposition today disrupted the proceedings of the Lok Sabha for the fourth consecutive day today demanding discussion on demonetisation on a rule which entails voting forcing Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for about 50 minutes soon after it assembled. As soon as the House met, members of the Congress, the Trinamool Congress, Left parties and the Aam Aadmi Party rushed to the Well of the House demanding a discussion on the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. Samjawadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Rashriya Janata Dal (RJD) stood in the aisles in solidarity with the other opposition members. While AIADMK members were also on the aisles raising the issue of Tamil fishermen injured allegedly in firing by Sri Lankan Navy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was seen busy in his seat in an intimate discussion with AAP MP from Punjab Harinder Singh Khalsa. Ignoring the slogan-shouting Opposition members, Speaker allowed the Question Hour to continue amidst noise. When some Opposition members tried to bring a placard, denouncing the demonetisation move, in front of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who was replying to a question related to his Ministry, the Speaker tried to intervene and asked the MPs not to disturb the Minister. "This is not good. Everyone will be shown on TV, but don't disturb the Minister. If you want to discuss something, raise it before the government. People are in pain, tell the government. But this is not the way to highlight people's grievances," Mahajan said asking them to return to their seats. However, an unrelenting opposition continued to raise slogans. The Speaker again appealed to the opposition to participate in the debate saying that the disruption of proceedings would not resolve the problem. "I am really pained. If you are people's representatives, you should stand by them," she said. As pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon after 20 minutes of proceedings. (PTI)

India: Lok Sabha adjourned for fourth consecutive day

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Indian Parliament adjourned till December 5 after protests over army deployment at toll plazas

By-polls in 6 Indian states: Ruling parties retain most seats

India: Lok Sabha adjourned for fourth consecutive day