BSP creates ruckus in UP Assembly over riots, law and order issues

Belligerent but divided on several issues, Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh, led by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), created a ruckus in the state Assembly on Monday with the objective of cornering the Samajwadi Party (SP) government over riots, the law and order situation and farmers' issues.

Lashing out at the state government led by Akhilesh Yadav, the BSP moved a notice for a discussion on the deteriorating law and order situation under Rules 311 and 56 of conducting business in the state assembly. "During this eight months of Samajwadi Party regime, about a dozen of riots occurred, more that half and a dozen of people have been died and about 500 houses and shops have been set to fire.

But, the government is in no mood to take a notice about the worsening situation of law and order in the state," said BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya. "The chief minister will have to face flak on a number of issues including the poor law and order situation, communal disturbances, government's protection to corrupt bureaucrats and the lawlessness of SP workers," he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised the issue of an adequate hike in the support price for sugarcane farmers.

State BJP president and senior legislator, Laxmikant Bajpai said: "The issue of the support price for the sugarcane farmers must be discussed and the time of the session should be increased to address the other issues like crime and law and order situation in the state."

Rashtriya Lok Dal legislator Dalbir Singh threatened to stall the assembly if their demands were not met. "Sugar mills are not working and farmers are under the burden of bank loan, these farmers should be given relief in their electricity bills," said Singh.

However, Senior SP leader and Cabinet minister Azam Khan said hit back at BSP and said that criminals have been habitual during the past five years of Mayawati regime and this is a big challenge before the new government. "This is the government of common and poor people. We are spending 80 percent of our budget for the welfare of the poor people and similarly the right of the sugarcane farmers will be announced soon," said Khan.

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