Oppn disrupts Assam Guvs speech

Assam Governor J B Patnaik was on Tuesday forced to cut short his speech in the opening day of the Assemblys budget session....

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Assam Governor J B Patnaik was on Tuesday forced to cut short his speech in the opening day of the Assemblys budget session as the Opposition raised slogans against his claim that the law and order situation in the state had undergone perceptible improvement.

Patnaik had just begun reading the first paragraph of his 27-page speech in Assamese when Opposition leader Chandra Mohan Patowari stood up to dismiss his claim that the law and order situation had changed. Other members of the Opposition cutting across party lines also stood up and began raising slogans against the Congress-led government. This prompted the Governor to jump to the last paragraph of his speech,while Opposition members displayed placards accusing the government of indulging in corruption,failing to arrest price rise and address other burning problems. Opposition Leader Patowari was also heard alleging that some ministers patronised militants.

Other members also shouted slogans about corruption in NREGA and other government schemes,non-regularisation of services of venture school teachers,and non-fulfilment of demands by six communities for inclusion in the ST list.

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Interestingly,some ruling party members were also seen standing up and displaying posters and placards as the Governor began his speech. While the contents of the posters displayed by them were not visible,some were also heard raising slogans.

Governor Patnaik said in his speech said that while there was perceptible improvement on the law and order front due to constant pressure from the security forces,these efforts had also paid rich dividends in the form of arrest of several top ULFA leaders. Two other outfits KLNLF and DHD(J) had also opted for negotiations and surrendered arms,he said.

Referring to the appointment of former IB chief PC Haldar as an interlocutor to talk to the militant outfits,governor Patnaik said the government was expecting positive developments. While we will continue to deal with any acts of violence firmly,I would like to say that the doors are open for negotiation within the framework of the Constitution of India, he added.