HAND IN HAND
STORMY START TO UP HOUSE SESSION
▪ The winter session of UP assembly began on a stormy note with the House being adjourned for the day within two hours of its start amid slogan-shouting by the SP and Congress members, who demanded immediate roll-back of the recent hike in power tariff. ▪ The House, however, transacted its listed business in the two hours. No question hour could be held and all the listed business was read out one after the other as SP and Congress members thronged the Well shouting slogans demanding roll back of hike in power tariff.
▪ The House assembled at 11 am but after about seven minutes of din, the Speaker adjourned it. After two more adjournments, the House was finally adjourned for the day at around 1 pm.
LUCKNOW : The winter session of Uttar Pradesh assembly began on a stormy note with the House being adjourned for the day within two hours of its start amid slogan-shouting by Samajwadi Party and Congress members, who demanded immediate rollback of the recent hike in power tariff.
The House, however, transacted its listed business in the two hours.
No ‘Question Hour’ could be held and all the listed business was read out one after the other as SP members, donning red caps, and Congress members with Gandhi caps thronged the Well of the House shouting “Bijli ke daam vapas lo” (rollback hike in power tariff) slogans.
They demanded immediate discussion on the issue.
Anti-government slogans were written on the caps of SP members even as they called the government anti-people, antifarmer and anti-student. Some slogans suggested use of ballot papers in elections.
BSP members, meanwhile, staged a walkout twice demanding rollback of power tariff hike.
Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit took up the listed business when his repeated requests for order, and that the issue be taken up after question hour, failed to make any impact.
Listed business included tabling of five Ordinances, recommendations of business advisory committee and other routine information.
There was order in the House when the Speaker took up obituary references for 15 former members.
But slogan-shouting began again when he wanted to take up other listed businesses.
Minister for parliamentary affairs Suresh Khanna said the state government had no role in deciding the power tariff and it was decided by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Authority.
He said the Opposition was raising the issue to remain in media focus.
“The state government was providing subsidy of Rs 3.08 per unit in rural areas. It had installed 8,000 new transformers and an average of 23 hour power was given to district headquarters,” he said.
As the House assembled at 11 am the members stood for ‘Vande Matram’ and the Speaker called for the listed business, a member from treasury benches was heard shouting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.
Soon, leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary also rose from his seat and began demanding a discussion on power tariff hike.
The Speaker asked Chaudhary to take his seat and allow passage of question hour. As Chaudhary continued to speak, SP members took out their plac- ards and entered the well of the House.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ajay Kumar Lallu also rose from his seat and began demanding roll-back of power tariff hike. Soon Lallu, along with Congress members, entered the Well of the House and joined the SP members in shouting slogans.
Former minister for parliamentary affairs Azam Khan said the Speaker should allow Chaudhary to speak on the issue.
After about seven minutes of din at the start, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes and after two more adjournments, the House was finally adjourned at around 1 pm for the day.