Marshals’ ‘sporting’ skills tested
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha marshals needed the skills of table tennis and badminton players, combined together, to deflect the paper missiles hurled at governor Ram Naik in the House on Monday.
As the governor began reading out his 101-page address, after playing of the national anthem, all hell broke loose with the opposition members hurling paper missiles at him. Some of the missiles failed to reach the target and fell away from the governor but others had to be deflected by the marshals to ensure his safety.
Vidhan Sabha marshal Manish Roy and deputy marshal Manmohan Pandey, standing on right and left side of the governor, used file covers and cardboards to deflect the paper missiles.
Also, a team of Vidhan Sabha security guards stood below the podium to ensure that the agitated opposition members did not reach Naik when he was reading out his address before the joint sitting of two houses of state legislature.
This is not the first time that paper missiles were used to attack the governor in the House. In the past too members have done so. But the situation this time appeared more challenging as the governor remained on the podium for nearly 35 minutes, much more than governors did earlier.
As pandemonium in the House amounted to success of the opposition’s strategy, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders in opposition benches, appeared in a joyous mood. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, however, appeared fuming as he watched the opposition members creating ruckus and throwing paper missiles at the governor.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT PAPER MISSILES WERE USED TO ATTACK THE GOVERNOR IN THE HOUSE
Trumpeters sounded the fanfare as the marshal announced arrival of governor Ram Naik in Vidhan Sabha Hall here on Monday. It was part of new protocol that the Vidhan Sabha decided to accord to the governor before his address.
The business advisory committee of the Vidhan Sabha at its meeting held on Sunday had authorized Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit to take a decision on the new protocol. Dixit decided in favour of it.
Under the provisions of new protocol, the governor is given a guard of honour when he leaves Raj Bhawan for the Vidhan Bhawan. At the Vidhan Bhawan too he is given a guard of honour.