Opposition raises slogan against SP government in Assembly, question hour adjourned

The first day of the Budget session of Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday witnessed noisy scenes, with opposition members raising slogans against the SP government over the law and order situation in the state, forcing the adjournment of the question hour of both the Houses.

Even before the proceedings of the Assembly started, BJP members, including state president Laxmi Kant Bajpai, staged a dharna in front of the gallery leading toward the chair of Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey and blocked his way to the House.

Later, as soon as the House assembled, the entire opposition, including BSP, Congress, BJP and Rashtriya Lok Dal members, stormed into the well of the House and raised slogans against the Akhilesh Yadav government. They demanded that the President dismiss the SP government in the state.

The opposition members were demanding a debate on the law and order situation in the state and other issues, including power crisis and outstanding payment of sugarcane farmers.

The BSP members waived placards with slogans like "murder, rape and dacoity...dismiss the Akhilesh government" and "Akhilesh government has failed on power front".

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey requested the members to ensure order of the House, saying since they have already moved a notice for a debate on these issues, they should raise the matter at the appropriate time.

The Speaker said BJP members' attempt to prevent him from entering the House was undemocratic.

"You have have closed the door and stopped me from entering. I cannot put the House to ransom in your hands. This is undemocratic. Whatever issue you want to raise, you should have raised it here inside the House," Pandey said.

When the din continued for almost half an hour and the opposition members refused to concede to the Speaker's repeated requests of maintaining order, Pandey adjourned the House for entire question hour till 12.20 pm.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Vidhan Parishad where opposition members stormed into the well of the House as soon as the proceeding started.

They were also demanding a debate on the law and order, power crisis and issues related to farmers.

Later, Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey adjourned the House for the entire question hour till 1 noon.