Opposition pandemonium on guv's address: BSP tears speech copy

Lucknow, Jan 18 (UNI) The opposition in the Uttar Pradesh assembly today created pandemonium in the house forcing Governor T V Rajeswar leave the house without reading his address to the joint session of the state legislature on the opening day of the winter session.

The Governor could only read out the first and the last line of his address and left with the customary ''Jai Hind'' soon after the house met at 1130 hrs.

Opposition BSP, BJP and RLD, which was supporting the government so far, raised slogans such as 'Rajyapal Vapas Jao' (Governor, Go Back) and 'Rajyapal Sach-Sach Bolo' (Governor read out the truth).

The opposition members were also holding protest banners BSP members wearing caps inscribed with slogans slamming the government over the Nithari killings wanted the Mulayam Singh Yadav government to be dismissed on the issue.

Congress, which earlier today officially withdrawn its outside support to the state government, however, did not raise slogans, and its members were seen standing at their benches.

Later, when the house assembled at 1300 hrs, speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to read the speech, but BSP members staged a noisy walkout after tearing copies of the speech..

Speaking on the Governor's address, BJP member Hukum Singh said actually Mr Rajeswar had not read out the speech out of protest against the Mulayam government.

However, his views were vehemently opposed State by Parliamentary Affairs minister Mohd Azam Khan who noted it was a tradition that the governor reads the first and last line, if the house is not in order during his speech.

Meanwhile, Congress has moved an amendment in the Governor's speech with 11 points, recommending inclusion of Jungle Raj in the state.

Later, the treasury bench tabled six bills in the house, which will be taken up for discussion and approval on January 24, the next sitting of the house. The house is expected to take up voting on the thanks to the governor's address on January 25, which could also be treated as a confidence vote for the Mulayam government.

Earlier before the commencement of the house, the main opposition BJP welcomed the Congress on the opposition benches by thumping tables.

The RLD, who also withdrew support from the government today, have also been given separate seats in the house in the opposition benches.

UNI