Governor addresses joint UP legislature amidst protests

Lucknow, May 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeswar today addressed a joint session of the state legislature amid protests by the Opposition, including Congress.

Raising slogans, BJP and BSP members greeted the governor when he started to read his address. Mr Rajeswar tried to pacify the members by asking them to listen to his address. But after a few minutes he returned after reading out the first and last sentences of the address.

Congress members stood on their seats opposing the address, wondering about the need for the ''formality'' since the Budget session was over.

The BSP members wore caps and waved banners and placards raising slogans on the Mulayam Singh government's failure. Leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon (BJP) tried to read out a statement, but it could not be heard due to the uproar.

Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Tandon in his six-point objection to governor's address, claimed that it was against the tradition as Mr Rajeswar should have not come to address the joint session of the legislature.

He stated it was unfortunate that the governor accepted the invitation to address the joint session even when a senior minister was continuously insulting him.

He also raised the issue of law and order, power and food grain procurement in the state.

BSP legislature party leader Swami Prasad Maurya demanding immediate dismissal of the Mulayam Singh Yadav government said when the governor knew about the condition of the state, then he should not have highlighted the achievements of the government in his address.

Congress legislature party leader Pramod Tiwari, said while his party was not opposed to the Governor as such, they were actually protesting his address after the end of the Budget session.

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