Opp walks out over grant of supplementary question

Guwahati, Mar 12: The main Opposition parties in Asom today walked out of the Assembly after the question hour, alleging that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLAs were not being given opportunity to raise supplementary questions.

They also alleged that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, also holding the Home portfolio, was excusing himself from answering questions related to law and order situation in the House.

The uproar was created during a question raised by AGP Legislator Keshab Mahanta in regard to the general law and order situation in the state.

State Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain, replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, informed that strengthening and modernisation of the police force were being mooted with proposals for new battalions also up.

The ruckus was created when the first supplementary question was granted to CPI(M) MLA Ananta Deka by Speaker T B Rai. AGP Legislator Chandramohan Patowary, granted the second supplementary after Mr Hussain, had replied to Mr Deka's query and alleged that the Speaker had denied him the first supplementary to ensure that the Minister run out of time to reply to Mr Patowary's question.

The Speaker, taking exception to Mr Patowary's remarks, said, ''It is unfortunate that a senior and experienced member like Mr Patowary has questioned the discretionary power of the Speaker's chair. '' Leader of Opposition Brindabon Goswami, bringing in a point of order, urged the presence of the Chief Minister to answer queries relating to the important portfolios.

He said, '' The Chief Minister holds the Home and Finance portfolios, both of which are extremely important. He should attend the House when questions relating to these two departments are raised. '' The Speaker, however, pointed out that other Ministers were authorised to reply for the Chief Minister or any of their other Ministerial colleagues with permission.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bharat Narah castigated Mr Patowary for criticising the Speaker, which was against the code of conduct of the Assembly.

To Mr Goswami's point, Mr Narah said any Minister could reply on behalf of the government as per rules with due authorisation from the Speaker.

However, the Opposition refused to be pacified and the AGP and the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) staged a walk out, alleging that the government shirking responsibility and the Opposition was not being given ample opportunity to raise issues.

UNI