By IANS,
Guwahati : The first day of the Assam assembly’s budget session Monday witnessed noisy scenes as slogan-shouting and placard-carrying opposition members attacked the government on various issues as soon as Governor J.B. Patnaik started his speech.
The governor could not complete his speech and it was taken as read.
The problem started as the governor congratulated the Tarun Gogoi government for “successfully” holding the panchayat polls in the state.
Members of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposed this as they had been time and again alleging malpractices on the part of the ruling Congress to influence the panchayat polls.
They maintained that the panchayat polls were not “successful” as severe violence occurred in Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas when the government tried to hold panchayat elections, leading to the death of 21 people.
The opposition parties also shouted slogans demanding that the government make efforts to stop the unprecedented price-rise and check unabated killing of rhinos and other animals inside protected areas of Assam, including the Kaziranga National Park.
They also demanded land deeds to people living in the riverine areas and end to corruption in the state.
Gogoi, later interacting with the media outside the assembly, termed the opposition’s action as “unfortunate” and said they should have rather taken part in debate.
“Creating noisy scenes leading to disruption has become a routine affair in Assam assembly by the opposition. This is not good for democracy, they should rather raise the issues and take part in debates over the issues,” he said.
The budget session of the Assam assembly is likely to continue till April 5 with a total of 18 sittings this time and Gogoi is likely to present the budget in the assembly on March 11.