Lucknow: The Budget Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly got off to a stormy start on Thursday with the Opposition MLAs raising anti-government slogans and staging protests over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, leading to adjournment of both the Houses for the day.
Making its intention clear, BJP started protests in the Legislative assembly even before the start of the proceedings. Its members staged a dharna in front of the gallery leading toward the chair of Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey blocking his way to the House.
When the House assembled, the entire opposition, including BSP, Congress, BJP and RLD members, stormed into the well of the House, raising slogans against the Akhilesh Yadav government and demanding its dismissal by the President.
They were demanding immediate debate on the law and order situation of the state and other issues like 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" and wore caps with slogans printed on them.
Speaker Pandey requested the members to ensure order, saying since they have already moved notices on these issues, they should raise them at the appropriate time.
The Speaker also expressed his displeasure over BJP members` attempt to block his entry to the House, terming it "undemocratic".
"You 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 inside the House," Pandey said.
But with the House continuing to be in disorder, the Speaker adjourned the entire question hour till 12.20 PM.
However, there was not change in the situation even after that. BSP members continued with their protest by standing on seats and displaying banners. BJP members also continued to disturb the proceedings by shouting slogans in the well.
As the Speaker rushed through the agenda, women MLAs of BJP tried to push through the marshalls and reach the chair despite the Speaker repeatedly saying that their behaviour was not right.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior SP leader Azam Khan was heard saying that such a behaviour by BJP, both inside and outside the House, was wrong and aimed at throwing the country in disarray. He called for taking strict steps to check it.
When the Speaker called for taking up the adjournment notice on law and order, Leader of Opposition BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya requested him to restore order in the House.
He alleged that BJP was in the well at Azam Khan`s behest to help the SP government avoid facing questions from the opposition. Khan retaliated by saying that it was BSP which had helped BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.
Finding it hard to speak amid the din, BSP MLAs led by Maurya staged a walkout and the Speaker adjourned the House for the day after finishing off the agenda.
The scene was no different in the Legislative Council where opposition members stormed into the well and raised slogans as soon as the proceedings started.
They were also demanding a debate on law and order, power crisis and issues related to farmers.
Chairman Ganesh Shanker Pandey adjourned the House for entire question hour. Later, when it reassembled, he rushed through the agenda and adjourned the House for the entire day.
