GUWAHATI, July 16 � The monsoon session of the Assam Legislative Assembly today began on a stormy note amidst war of words between Opposition and ruling party members followed by separate walk outs by members of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the issue of law and order situation in the State, particularly the incident of molestation of a girl in the city on July 9.
Speaker Pranab Gogoi while rejecting the adjournment motions moved by the Opposition parties on the issue of molestation of a girl in the city, admitted that the matter was a serious one and all those involved must be punished.
As soon as the House assembled for the first day of the current session, the leader of the AIUDF legislature party, Sirajuddin Ajmal sought to move an adjournment motion and said that the law and order situation has deteriorated as a girl was molested in the city, while there were incidents of attacks on members of an Assembly committee and legislator Rumi Nath. The Speaker said that he would be able to move the motion after the Question Hour, but the AIUDF members opposed the Speaker�s ruling and rose to their feet demanding that they should be allowed to move the motion at that point of time.
The AIUDF members alleged that there was no point discussing other issues at a time when even the legislators are not safe. This resulted in a war of words between members of the Congress and the AIUDF, and at one point of time the Marshal and the watch and ward staff were trying to pull the AIUDF members out of the House. Unable to bring the situation under control, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
As soon as the House re-assembled, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Nilamani Sen Deka said that the Government was ready to discuss the issue but there was no need for an adjournment motion. However, the AIUDF members continued pressing for moving their motion and the Speaker started the question hour amidst protests by the AIUDF members. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain replied to two questions amidst the din, but nothing could be heard and later the members of the AIUDF staged a walk out.
Immediately after the question hour, the members of the AGP and BJP also moved an adjournment motion on the same issue. Moving the motion, Phani Bhushan Choudhury (AGP) said that the whole country condemned the incident of molestation of a girl on the GS road. The incident was going on for 45 minutes before the police arrived at the scene . He said that the Government kept mum for three days and it started acting only when the issue became a national one and even the Union Home Minister expressed concern over the incident. He also said that the law and order situation deteriorated as was evident from the attacks on the Assembly committee, Rumi Nath and Akhil Gogoi.
Prasanta Phukan (BJP) said that the molestation took place within one kilometre from the police station, but it took police 45 minutes to reach the spot.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister opposed the motion and said that all possible steps are being taken to nab the culprits and six of them have already been arrested. The victim�s statement has been recorded and the matter is now subjudice as the arrested persons have already been produced before the court. He also said that an enquiry committee has been constituted and one sub inspector of police has been placed under suspension in connection with the case.
