The Budget session of the Assam Assembly began on a stormy note on Monday as Opposition members stormed into the Well of the House, raising slogans and attempting to disrupt Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya’s address.
The ruckus continued for almost the entire 40-minute speech, with MLAs from the Congress, AIUDF, CPI(M) and a lone Independent protesting five minutes after the Governor began outlining the government’s developmental record.
Led by Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia, Congress legislators entered the Well carrying copies of the Governor’s speech. AIUDF members displayed placards bearing images linked to a controversial purported video of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
As the Governor continued reading, treasury bench members thumped desks in approval whenever developmental achievements were mentioned. Speaker Biswajit Daimary repeatedly appealed to the protesting MLAs to return to their seats, but the pleas went unheeded.
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At one stage, some Opposition members attempted to hurl copies of the speech towards the podium. Marshals intervened swiftly, seizing the booklets and removing placards and papers from the protesting legislators. More than 20 security personnel were deployed to cordon off over 30 Opposition MLAs who remained in the Well throughout the address.
The protesting members also raised slogans demanding justice for singer Zubeen Garg, who died in Singapore on September 19 last year, and referred to the controversy surrounding the purported video.
For a brief period, the MLAs squatted on the floor while continuing their sloganeering. AIUDF legislators remained seated on the carpet until the conclusion of the speech, while others stood again near the podium in continued protest.
In what is the final session of the Assembly under the present government before the elections, a vote-on-account is scheduled to be presented on Tuesday.
Despite the din, the Governor completed his address, highlighting the state’s welfare initiatives and achievements over the past five years.
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