GUWAHATI, March 12 � The Legislative Assembly today witnessed a spat between the treasury bench and BJP members after the latter accused Congress MLA Pradyut Bordoloi of diverting from the stated subject of discussion on the Budget and indulging in a political speech targeting the NDA regime in New Delhi.
Bordoloi, on his part, called upon the AGP and AIUDF, whom he described as �secular democrats�, to come together with the Congress to defeat the BJP and help the government in passing the Budget.
The war of words took place during the general discussion on the Budget.
Bordoloi in his speech accused the NDA regime at the Centre of trying to saffronise the education system and of having a hidden social agenda.
He lambasted the BJP for taking a series of U-turns on its promises after winning the Lok Sabha elections, suspending the NEIIPP, curtailing grants to social security schemes, saying that the Modi-led government is pandering to the wishes of big corporates.
Even as Bordoloi was making his speech, Jadav Deka of BJP jumped to his feet and interjected, �Is it a discussion on the State Budget or is it a political speech?�
However, as Bordoloi continued with his speech, BJP�s Manoranjan Deka interrupted him and said, �If you wish we can have a BJP versus Congress debate. But for now, please stick to the Budget. Why are you bringing Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse into the Budget discussion?�
However, this did not prevent Bordoloi from continuing with his speech, even as members of the Congress tried to shout down the small group of BJP MLAs.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rakibul Hussain asked the BJP members to let Bordoloi finish his speech. �The BJP members will get their time afterwards. Then they can speak,� Hussain said.
Bordoloi then touched upon a number of issues in his speech and said that the Budget presented by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was a continuation of the philosophy of all-inclusive growth practised by the previous UPA regime at the Centre and Gogoi�s own government for the last few years.
Pointing to the ban on beef in Maharashtra, he said that the people should not be forced with regard to dietary choice and added in a lighter note, �I do not support killing of living beings. I am in fact trying to become a vegetarian. But things should not be forced upon people.�
Asking the Opposition parties to accept the Budget, Bordoloi said, �I call upon the AGP, Left and AIUDF, who are all secular democrats, to come together with us and defeat the reactionary policies of BJP. Our Budget is a symbol of all-inclusive growth. Accept it and help us pass it.�
