Cong, BSP MLAs decide to boycott Assembly's budget session

Dehra Dun, Mar 7 (UNI) For the first time in Uttarakhand Assembly's history, Opposition Congress and BSP MLAs decided to boycott the Budget session and resorted to a 'dharna'.

Perturbed by the government's attitude of not hastening the process of issuance of caste certificates, the legislators of both the parties, in a meeting today, decided to resort to one-hour dharnas for each day of the Assembly's Budget session.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri called up State Assembly Speaker Harvansh Kapur and BSP's Mohammed Irshak and expressed his desire to take part in the Assembly proceedings.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant, Sports Minister Rajendra Singh and Health Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, on the Speaker's request, unsuccessfully tried to reason with the agitating MLAs.

At around 1100 hrs, the MLAs staged a dharna, while some played 'sarangi' to air their anti-government stance.

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