Assam assembly speaker Pranab Gogoi suspends 12 MLAs for entire winter session

GUWAHATI: Assam assembly speaker Pranab Gogoi on Monday suspended 12 MLAs—five BJP members and eight Congress defectors—for the entire winter session for disobeying his ruling and creating noisy scenes.

Marshals were pressed to take out opposition MLAs.

Nine dissident Congress MLAs have joined BJP. However, Congress has moved for the disqualification of these MLAs following their expulsion from the party.

During the question hour, BJP member Jadav Chandra Deka demanded scrapping of the Question Hour and holding of a discussion on the “deteriorating law and order situation” in the state. “Law and order situation is deteriorating day by day. Hindi-speaking people are being tortured and Jehadi activities are on rise,” he said.

The speaker rejected his demand. Opposition MLAs shouted in support of Deka’s demand and then some rushed to the well of the house, prompting the speaker to suspend them for the winter session on the very first day.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi later condemned BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma’s allegation that the speaker has been influenced by the chief minister. “It is really unfortunate that Sarma choose to hurl wild allegation against me that I have influenced the Speaker. It is a blatant lie. This is a grave insult to the honourable speaker who always maintains neutrality and impartiality. He has also desecrated the sanctity of the House,” he said.

The chief minister challenged Sarma to prove his allegation, or apologise publicly.