GUWAHATI, July 18 - Utter chaos marked the Budget Session of the Assam Assembly that began today, with members of both the Opposition and the ruling BJP-led alliance creating unruly scenes over the issue of auction of 12 oilfields of the State.
The Opposition (Congress and AIUDF) ultimately walked out of the House.
It all started with the Opposition members demanding vociferously that the Speaker allow an adjournment motion during Zero Hour for enabling a discussion on the matter of oilfield auction, something the Speaker denied citing rules and proceedings for conduct of business in the House.
The Speaker also told the members that the discussion could take place on another day. When the Opposition members rushed to the well of the House, the treasury bench (BJP, AGP and BPF) members also left their seats and confronted them, creating a ruckus and it was impossible to make out who was saying what. They also carried placards and shouted slogans against the government.
The Speaker, amid the din, adjourned the House for five minutes, but when the House resumed, a similar scene prevailed again, and finally the Opposition staged a walkout.
Later, speaking to reporters in his chamber, Speaker Ranjit Dass said that as time had already been allotted to discuss the issue of auction of small oilfields, there was no question of having the same discussion twice.
�So I rejected the demand,� he said, adding that as per rules the Speaker has discreation of refusing to accede to such demands. He also cited relevant rules in this regard.
Dass also called upon the MLAs not to resort to such �unruly scenes� in future.
