Stormy session likely

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 17: The Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly slated from July 18 to August 12 seems to be hot both inside the House and outside it with a number of disputed issues against the BJP-led government in the State have been lined up.
Issues like hike in VAT by one per dent and site selection of AIIMS are being protested in the State. The issue of AIIMS site selection has even escalated into a law-and-order problem with a person killed in police firing even as the BJP-led government at Dispur is yet to complete two months. The Union Ministry of Petroleum’s decision to auction 12 oilfields of the State has also been opposed by various parties and organizations of the State.  All such issues are set to be raised by the Opposition on the floor of the Assembly. How the ruling party cushions the blow in the Opposition attack inside the Assembly is a matter to be keenly watched. The heat is likely to be generated outside the Assembly at Dispur Last Gate with as many as six organizations obtaining permission to stage dhar on the first day of the Budget Session. The some of the organizations that got person for staging dhar tomorrow are the Krishak Sramik Unyan Parishad, Assam (KSUPA), Axom Xe, Go Palok Mitras and others. Slogan shouting and going to Dispur in procession are often seen when the Assembly is in session. Meanwhile, a massive security bandobast has been made for the Assembly session. Besides State police personnel, paramilitary forces have been deployed so as to face every eventuality. Barricades are seen placed in all entry points into Dispur.