Remarks on Asom Speaker creates furore in Assembly

Guwahati, Mar 30 (UNI) The Asom Assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over a remark of our Independent MLA Pranab Kalita on the Nepali origins of the speaker, forcing the member to withdraw the statement later.

Mr Kalita, drawing the attention of the House on the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, which deals with the constitutional, legal and administrative protection of Assamese people, referred to the Nepali origin of Speaker T B Rai in his introductory remarks.

Mr Kalita said, ''Our Speaker is a Nepali and he is from Nepal.'' The statement created a furore in the House, with the treasury as well as the Opposition benches taking to their feet and demanding withdrawal of the statement.

Members of the ruling Congress, Opposition parties as well as ministers demanded an apology from the Independent MLA.

The Speaker, taking strong exception of the statement, castigated Mr Kalita for questioning his origins due to the fact that the former belonged to Nepali-speaking section of the state.

Mr Rai said, ''I was born and brought up in Asom. It is highly unfortunate that Mr Kalita has said I am from Nepal when the facts are otherwise.'' The dinsubsided after Mr Kalita withdrew his statement and pleaded an apology.

Earlier, raising the issue of expediting the implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord, CPI legislator Dhrupad Borgohain pointed out that the delay in arriving at a common consensus definition of 'Assamese' people would adversely effect the interest of the state and its people.

Bodoland People's Progressive Front (BPPF) legislator Karendra Basumatary, participating in the discussion, said the proposal to define 'Assamese' people, based on use of the Assamese language as the chief means of communication, would not be acceptable to the indigenous tribes.

Replying to the discussion, Assam Accord Implementation Minister Bhumidhar Barman said the Group of Ministers, formed to come at an all-encompassing definition acceptable to all, would soon be holding talks with various organisations.

He also mentioned that suggestion for forming a definition send to the Centre during the chief ministership of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was not pursued by the Centre.

UNI