Congress stages walkout, flays Speaker

SPECIAL STATUS

No special status in Centre's book, only 'special treatment' for states like Assam, says Fince  minister

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 21: The Opposition Congress staged a walkout in the Assembly on Thursday, protesting State Fince Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s “misleading” statement in the House on the issue of special category state status to Assam.

The Congress later stated that its members staged the walkout because the Speaker didn’t allow a debate on the issue in the House on Wednesday as it had demanded, but on Thursday allowed Sarma to furnish a clarification on the same issue.

Taking the issue seriously, the Congress alleged that the Speaker is not acting impartially, but rather trying to run the House at his whim.

In his reply, Himanta said, “I didn’t mislead the House and if the Opposition thinks otherwise, they can bring a privilege motion against me,” adding, “there is nothing called special status in the books of the Central government, but there is a mention of special treatment under which the Central government is providing special facilities for the States including Assam.”

The detailed report on the State’s special status would be placed in the House by the Fince Minister on Monday next.