Criticism from treasury: Oppn walks out from assembly

Guwahati, Mar 25: Opposition parties staged a walkout in Assam Assembly today after the Speaker refused to discuss the issue of burning of a block office in Nagaon district raised by Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF). The walkout also evoked strong criticism from the treasury benches for ''ideologically different parties hobnobbing for political mileage''.

The AUDF had sought permission to raise a point of order after the Question Hour on the burning of Juria block office. When Speaker T B Rai refused to allow it and urged them to bring in the issue through other provisions of the Assembly rules, the AUDF legislators marched into the well of the House.

With the Speaker still refusing to relent, the AUDF walked out of the House, followed by the AGP, BJP and Left legislators. The combined Opposition walk-out evoked strong criticism from the treasury benches, with State Cabinet Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma pointing that the Opposition parties, which were opposed to each other on their founding ideologies and policies, were hobnobbing for political gains.

He also criticized the AGP for following the AUDF out of the House and thereby demeaning its status as the main Opposition party in the state.

UNI