By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
GAIRSAIN, 19 Aug: The Monsoon session of the Uttarakhand Assembly began today at the Vidhan Sabha building in Bhararisain, Gairsain in Chamoli, and the very first day witnessed high drama and repeated disruptions led by the Opposition. The four-day session is expected to remain stormy, with the opening day seeing heated exchanges, repeated adjournments and unprecedented scenes inside the House. At first, the house was adjourned till 12 noon and later till 12:40 but was again adjourned till 3 pm. As soon as the House assembled at 3 pm, it had to be once again adjourned, till amid ruckus by the Opposition. At 4 pm, the House assembled once more again when some bills and the supplementary budget was tabled and then the House was adjourned till 11 am tomorrow.
As soon as the proceedings began today, Congress members created uproar over issues related to disaster management and law and order. Opposition MLAs trooped into the well of the House, shouting slogans and stalling the agenda. Owing to the din, the Question Hour could not be conducted. The Congress demanded that a discussion be held under Rule 310 on the law and order situation.
All Congress MLAs descended into the well, forcing the Speaker to extend adjournments thrice.
The ruckus soon escalated, with Opposition MLAs reportedly breaking a microphone, toppling the Secretary’s table and damaging a tablet inside the House.
Due to Despite repeated adjournments, normal proceedings could not resume. A heated altercation ensued between the Speaker and Congress legislators, who went on to tear official papers in protest. The Opposition demanded due respect be accorded to the Leader of Opposition and further sought the dismissal of the Nainital District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police. As the situation turned chaotic, the House was adjourned until 12:30 pm.
In the midst of the uproar, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami entered the Assembly. Discussion began on notices submitted under Rule 300, but Congress persisted with its protest. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal accused the Opposition of insulting the dignity of the House and demanded the suspension of disrupting MLAs for the day. When the Chief Minister rose to speak, his microphone failed to function, compelling him to address the House from another seat, something that has never happened before. The CM was reading out the condolence motion on the demise of former, MLA Munni Devi.
Once the proceedings resumed post lunch at 3 pm, the Opposition continued with its commotion. Though the government sought to introduce certain bills, the noise levels remained high, forcing another adjournment till 4:00 pm. The House reassembled at 4 when 8 bills were tabled by the government and later the CM, amid the continuing protest from Opposition benches, presented the supplementary budget (demands on grants). However, disruptions in the well of the House showed no signs of abating. The Assembly proceedings were eventually adjourned once again, this time until 11:00 am on Wednesday, marking a turbulent start to the Monsoon session.
The four day session is expected to conclude on 22nd August.
Meanwhile, in view of the charged atmosphere, Section 163 of the criminal procedure has been imposed in Bhararisain for the duration of the four-day session, from 19th August till 5 pm on 22nd August. This restricts holding protests within a five-kilometre radius of the Vidhan Sabha premises.
