Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Wednesday condemned the prolonged custody of ISF’s Bhangar MLA, Nawsad Siddique, who was arrested on charges of clashing with police in Calcutta on January 21.

During an interaction with journalists on Assembly premises, Banerjee said: “I personally think that there is no reason for him to stay in jail for so long. This is what I think as an advocate, not as the Speaker of the Assembly or an MLA. As an advocate, I think personally that this is not at all a matter to stay (arrested) for so long.”

The statement gains significance in the backdrop of Trinamul’s no-holds-barred attack on Siddique. Top leaders of the party, including minister Firhad Hakim and state secretary Kunal Ghosh, have alleged that Siddique was working at the behest of the BJP.

Trinamul’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had also made similar allegations without naming Siddique.

Multiple cases have been lodged against Siddique across three stations of the Calcutta police — Hare Street, New Market and Calcutta Leather Complex — in connection with the January 21 incident. Last week, the police charged Siddique with attempted murder.

Banerjee’s statement on Wednesday is also significant because the Speaker criticised Siddique for his alleged role in the clashes back in January.

“I think it is pointless to mount pressure like this. One MLA and his party will hit the roads and carry out arson. They will try to bring life to a halt and seek refuge in religion or in the capacity of a member of the House. That cannot be the case. The law must be equal for all,” Banerjee had then told reporters.

Now, the Baruipur MLA appears to have softened his stand on Siddique.

The battle for the bail plea of Siddique, along with 88 ISF workers arrested for their alleged role in the January 21 violence, is being fought in courts.

A Calcutta High Court division bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Bivas Pattanayak on Wednesday heard the bail plea for Siddique and other arrested ISF workers.

Justice Bagchi expressed surprise at the alleged incident of an MLA attacking the police. He wondered how 88 persons could be arrested for one incident.

Justice Bagchi ordered the police to submit video footage proving the arrested individuals were truly participants in the violence. The matter will be heard again on March 1.

Reacting to Justice Bagchi’s observation, Banerjee said if judges think the arrested individuals were wrongfully kept captive, they should grant bail.

In a friendly advice to Siddique’s lawyers, Banerjee said: “His lawyers should have taken steps more logically.”

Asked to react to Banerjee’s statement, Trinamul spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said he wouldn’t speak on a sub judice matter.

“Having said that, what he (Banerjee) said is only in his capacity,” Ghosh said. “Probe is on against Nawsad Siddique over specific allegations. The court will decide.”