GUWAHATI, Feb 5 � The Opposition parties virtually stalled the proceedings of the Assam Legislative Assembly for the first four days of the current session and a similar situation is likely to continue in the remaining two days of the session as all the Opposition parties are adamant on their demands.
The Opposition parties have been demanding that the Government should entrust the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into all the financial irregularities in North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council and the Ministers suspected to be involved in the scam should be removed to facilitate impartial probe.
Talking to The Assam Tribune today, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that the Opposition would never give up the demands. He said that the protests would continue till the demands of the Opposition are fulfilled. He said that the Opposition parties would meet either tomorrow or before the commencement of the House on Monday to decide their future course of action.
Mahanta said that the Ministers suspected to be involved in the NC Hills scam should be removed to pave the way for an impartial probe and as the Minister in charge of Finance Department, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi must also face the blame as huge amounts of money in excess of budget provisions was sent to the Autonomous Council by the State Government.
On the suspension of BJP legislator Prasanta Phukan for the rest of the session, the Opposition leader said that all the Opposition parties have already lodged their protest against the verdict of the Speaker. "We will take a decision in this regard depending on whether the Speaker revokes his verdict or not," he added.
Mahanta alleged that the Government failed to respect democracy and passed several bills and also the motion of thanks on the Governor's address without the participation of the Opposition. He said that the Government might try to pass the Vote on Account also without the participation of the Opposition in the discussions.
On the Government's allegation that the Opposition parties were trying to stall passing of the Vote on Account just to block the salaries of the Government employees, Mahanta said that the Government was trying to mislead the people in view of the coming elections. He said that there is provisions in the Constitution as per which the payment of salaries and relief operations during natural calamities cannot be stopped under any circumstance.
