Government suppressing agitation against CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act): AIUDF

RUCKUS IN ASSEMBLY

l Speaker reserves ruling

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Congress and the AIUDF members staged a noisy walkout on the first day of the Budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) on Monday in protest against the Speaker reserving his ruling on their (Oppositions’) respective adjournment motions for the day. Before staging the walkout, members of both the parties created a noisy scene in front of the well for about half-an-hour.

While the AIUDF in its adjournment motion stated that “the State government has been suppressing the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) agitators for its political mileage”, the adjournment motion of the Congress stated that “the government has been suppressing democratic agitators”. It has, however, stopped short of using the phrase ‘anti-CAA agitators’.

On the admissibility of the two adjournment motions the Speaker said after hearing both the sides, “It’s a serious matter. I need to study it thoroughly. I keep my ruling reserved.”

The Speaker’s statement made both the AIUDF and the Congress members leave their respective seats and rush to the well of the House. They started shouting slogans like ‘Save democracy’ with placards in hands. The situation led the ruling party members to also rush to the well and shout slogans like ‘Jai Aai Axom’. The veritable competition of slogans between the Opposition and the ruling party members continued for about 20 minutes when the House could not do any proceedings. After that the AIUDF and the Congress staged a noisy walkout.

After the walkout of the Opposition, the Speaker said, “Since I’ve kept my ruling reserved, nobody can force me to give the ruling instantly. The Opposition MLAs should’ve realized this. Even if I accept their motions and give my ruling today, the issue won’t be discussed today. It can only be discussed as and when I’ll fix a day for it. In such a situation, what’s the reason behind insisting for an instant ruling? I haven’t even rejected their motions. I’m supposed to give my ruling on Tuesday.”

Earlier moving the party’s adjournment motion, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said, “Opposing an Act doesn’t mean involvement in anti-social activities.”

AIUDF Legislature Party leader Hafiz Rashid Basir Ahemed Choudhury said, “Protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution. It’s good for healthy democracy. However, for political mileage the government is violating this right of the people.”

From the government side, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said, “When a democratic protest goes violent, the police will have to take action, and the law-and-order action of the police can’t be a subject of adjournment motion. If the Opposition parties want to discuss the issue, they’ve other devices. We’ve one-month time of the session. We’re ready to discuss it.”

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