ITANAGAR, March 21 - Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in Arunachal Assembly describing the House session as �illegal�.
The moment the Budget session of Assembly commenced with an obituary reference, in respect of former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, initiated by Speaker Wangki Lowang, the Opposition led by senior Congress leader Tanga Byaling staged the walkout terming it as �illegal� while pointing out the pending case in the Supreme Court.
Eight out of 15 Congress MLAs turned up for today�s House session � for the first time since then Congress rebel leader Kalikho Pul was sworn-in as the Chief Minister on February 19 last.
However, former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and former Speaker Nabam Rebia, among others, did not attend today�s session. �You may convene the session as per your whims but since the matter is still pending in the apex court, We, the Congress, do not consider the government as well as House session to be legal and will not attend it,� former Home Minister Byaling stated before leaving the House.
Reacting to the Opposition�s move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Wanglin Lowangdong said: Since the People�s Party of Arunachal (PPA) Government headed by Kalikho Pul �enjoys absolute majority, the House is very much legal and constitutional.�
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today assigned departments to the newly appointed Parliamentary Secretaries. Pul had on March 18 last appointed 15 MLAs, including 13 from ruling People�s Party of Arunachal (PPA) and two Independents, to the post of Parliamentary Secretaries to assist his Council of Ministers. He has, however, allocated departments among 13 Parliamentary Secretaries as two others � Pasang Dorjee Sona and Tirong Aboh (former Minister in previous Nabam Tuki Cabinet) � were yet to take the oath.
Chow Tewa Mein has been allotted Environment & Forests and Phosum Khimhun entrusted with Hydropower (both attached with Chief Minister).
While Punji Mara got Horticulture, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (attached with CM and DCM), former Deputy Speaker Jomde Kena has been assigned State Transport and Land Management (attached with CM).
The other Parliamentary Secretaries have been assigned: Alo Libang (PHE & WS), Gum Tayeng (Water Resources), Tapuk Taku (Power, Electrical), Jambey Tashi (Rural Works), Tatung Jamoh (Industries and Agriculture), Zingnu Namchoom (Tax & Excise and Textile & Handicrafts), Mutchu Mithi (Sports & Youth Affairs, PWD), Paknga Bage (Home) and Tsering Tashi (Education) � to be attached with Ministers concerned.
ITANAGAR, March 21 - Opposition Congress today staged a walkout in Arunachal Assembly describing the House session as �illegal�.
The moment the Budget session of Assembly commenced with an obituary reference, in respect of former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma, initiated by Speaker Wangki Lowang, the Opposition led by senior Congress leader Tanga Byaling staged the walkout terming it as �illegal� while pointing out the pending case in the Supreme Court.
Eight out of 15 Congress MLAs turned up for today�s House session � for the first time since then Congress rebel leader Kalikho Pul was sworn-in as the Chief Minister on February 19 last.
However, former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and former Speaker Nabam Rebia, among others, did not attend today�s session. �You may convene the session as per your whims but since the matter is still pending in the apex court, We, the Congress, do not consider the government as well as House session to be legal and will not attend it,� former Home Minister Byaling stated before leaving the House.
Reacting to the Opposition�s move, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Wanglin Lowangdong said: Since the People�s Party of Arunachal (PPA) Government headed by Kalikho Pul �enjoys absolute majority, the House is very much legal and constitutional.�
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul today assigned departments to the newly appointed Parliamentary Secretaries. Pul had on March 18 last appointed 15 MLAs, including 13 from ruling People�s Party of Arunachal (PPA) and two Independents, to the post of Parliamentary Secretaries to assist his Council of Ministers. He has, however, allocated departments among 13 Parliamentary Secretaries as two others � Pasang Dorjee Sona and Tirong Aboh (former Minister in previous Nabam Tuki Cabinet) � were yet to take the oath.
Chow Tewa Mein has been allotted Environment & Forests and Phosum Khimhun entrusted with Hydropower (both attached with Chief Minister).
While Punji Mara got Horticulture, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (attached with CM and DCM), former Deputy Speaker Jomde Kena has been assigned State Transport and Land Management (attached with CM).
The other Parliamentary Secretaries have been assigned: Alo Libang (PHE & WS), Gum Tayeng (Water Resources), Tapuk Taku (Power, Electrical), Jambey Tashi (Rural Works), Tatung Jamoh (Industries and Agriculture), Zingnu Namchoom (Tax & Excise and Textile & Handicrafts), Mutchu Mithi (Sports & Youth Affairs, PWD), Paknga Bage (Home) and Tsering Tashi (Education) � to be attached with Ministers concerned.
