GUWAHATI, Dec 7 – The Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly started with a stormy note with the Opposition members staging a walkout in protest against the Speaker’s decision of not allowing an Adjournment motion on price rise. The Opposition members also did not accept the Speaker’s proposal for allowing a two hour discussion on price rise later in the afternoon.
Immediately after the Question Hour, the members of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF), BJP, CPI and CPM moved an Adjournment Motion on the issue of sharp increase of process of essential commodities and alleged that the Government totally failed to control the prices.
Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary alleged that the Government does not have any control over the market. He said that all sections of people of Assam have been affected by the soaring prices of essential commodities. He revealed that since India stepped into globalization in 1991, the country witnessed 400 per centincrease of prices. He called upon the Speaker to suspend all the normal business of the House for the day to discuss the issue.
Dr Aditya Langthasa (AUDF) alleged that the Government totally failed to control prices of essentials, making life miserable for the common people. He said that though the State Government has been claiming thatincrease of prices at the source is the main reason for price rise, that is not a fact. Citing one example, he said that in the last one year, all India average increase of price of rice was only 13.7 percent, while, the increase of price in Assam was 50 per cent.
Drupad Borgohain (CPI) said that the Government totally failed to deal with the markets and demanded that the prices of essential commodities should be fixed. Uddhab Barman (CPM) and Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) also expressed the view that the soaring prices of essentials affected all sections of people.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Bharat Chandra Narah opposed the Adjournment Motion as he claimed that there are provisions to discussthe issue in the House through other means. He also said that the Government was not opposed to discussing the matter.
Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai rejected the motion. But he allowed a two hour discussion on the issue from 3 pm today. However, the Opposition members strongly opposed the Speaker’s ruling and rejected his suggestion for a two hour discussion later in the day before staging a walk out. TheOpposition members did not participate in the proceedings of the House for the entire day.
Kerosene Supply: The Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Dr Nazrul Islam today informed the House that the Government has directed the Director, Food and Civil Supplies to enquire into the allegations of irregularities into distribution of kerosene through the public distribution system.
Replying to a zero hour question by Mahibul Haque (Ind), the Minister admitted that shortage of kerosene is a major problem and revealed that against the requirement of 43,000 MT kerosene per month, the State is getting only 21,000 MT. He claimed thatthe Government has been taking action against those involved in irregularities and so far this year, 19 persons have been arrested. He assured that if any specific complaint is received,the Government would act immediately.
Anganwadi workers: The Assembly today witnessed noisy scenes with the Opposition members demanding formation of a House committee to investigate into the irregularities in appointment of Anganwadi workers.
The Opposition members were not satisfied with the reply of the Social Welfare Minister Akan Bora in reply to a question by Prasanta Phukan (BJP) and rushed to the well of the House demanding formation of a House Committee to investigate into the irregularities. This resulted in a war of words between themembers of the ruling and Opposition parties and the Minister claimed that even some Opposition members had forwarded their recommendations for appointment as Anganwadi workers.
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