 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's first innings in the state assembly began on a stormy note in Lucknow on Monday, when on the very opening day of the budget session, Bahujan Samaj Party created so much ruckus that forced UP Governor B L Joshi to abandon his joint address to the state legislature.
It was history repeating itself in the 403-members house where even uglier scenes have been witnessed umpteen times.
Ironically, unlike the past when the Samajwadi Party members were seen on the other side of the fence, the party remained at the receiving end this time.
BSP legislators, who remained a completely docile and silent lot during the five years of Mayawati rule when their voices were heard only for uttering "yes" to Behenji's proposals, were in their new element -- screaming, shouting anti-government slogans and demanding the governor to "go back".
Uproar began no sooner than the governor stepped on to the altar of the assembly and rose to read out his address to a joint gathering of both the upper and lower houses of state legislature.
Raising anti-Samajwadi Party government slogans and carrying blue-banners emboldened with those very slogans, BSP legislators stormed into the well of the house and threatened to disrupt the proceedings. While some of them surrounded CM Akhilesh Yadav's desk for a while, others tore the day's agenda and used the paper to make paper-balls that were used as missiles aimed at the podium .
Condemning the new regime for the "increasing crime" and "large scale irregularities in wheat procurement", they even went to the extent of demanding "dismissal" of the Akhilesh Yadav government.
Much of their anger was also against Akhilesh government's decision to change the names of various public welfare and development schemes initiated by Mayawati.
The Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party however chose to express a silent protest against what they termed as the new government's "non performance" by raising a few banners.
A visibly shaken governor just managed to read out the opening sentence of the printed text of his speech after which he simply marched out of the assembly.
Clearly encouraged by the success of their disruption plans, BSP legislators turned even more belligerent and climbed atop the desks on the podium, while continuing with their slogan shouting.
Apparently left with no other option, Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey promptly adjourned the house for an hour. When the house reassembled at 12.30 pm, BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya, who was also leader of the opposition in the assembly, once again took the mike to flay the Akhilesh government, before leading his pack to stage a walk-out.
Speaker Pandey completed the remaining routine business of the house, following which he adjourned the proceedings for the day around 1 pm. The house will now meet on Tuesday.
Video: ANI