Speaker rues over media row

Guwahati, May 31 (UNI) Asom Assembly speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai today expressed regret over a media row which sparked off during the debate on the Governor address.

In a swift mode to cap a potentially dangerous row, the Speaker intervened to regret over a remark that he made over media saying that he did not want to generalise all.

The issue came into fore when BJP MLP Ranjit Dutta cited a certain paper to press his claim that malaria death had taken huge toll in Sonitpur district. This was opposed from the treasury bench and health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma asked not to take the report seriously.

This brought the Speaker into action who also uttered similar comment followed by independent MLA Muhibul Haque.

This provoked the media people, who had come for coverage of the Assembly proceedings, to stage a walk-out from the press gallery.

When the matter was raised by AGP MLA Chandra Mohan Patowary, the Speaker immediately intervened and requested all to end the row.

UNI MT PC AKP1450