The Monsoon Session of the UP Assembly got off to a noisy start on Friday as the entire Opposition disrupted the proceedings of the House and forced suspension of the Question Hour.
As soon as the House convened at 11 am, the BJP members trooped into the Well of the House, shouting slogans against the state government. The Samajwadi Party, Congress and Rashtriya Lok Dal also joined in the protest after which chief minister Mayawati left the House in a huff. The Opposition members held aloft banners and shouted slogans demanding an immediate discussion on corruption in the NRHM funds.
Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar tried to pacify the members saying they will be heard under relevant rules but the slogan-shouting Opposition members refused to budge.
When the House reassembled after the suspension of the Question Hour, the Opposition returned to the Well waving garlands made of fake currency notes.
After repeated requests, SP members continued to throw paper balls and caps at the Speaker after which the latter rushed through the day’s agenda and adjourned the House till Monday.
Parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma later said that the Opposition had no issues against the government and was, therefore, shying away from a discussion. “They are disrupting the proceedings to gather media attention because they will have nothing to say if a discussion takes place,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari accused the government of provoking the Opposition to avoid a discussion.