Gujarat Assembly budget session starts on a stormy note

AHMEDABAD: The budget session of the Gujarat Assembly today commenced on a stormy note as Congress MLAs rushed to the Well of the House during the speech of Governor O P Kohli and shouted slogans against the BJP-led state government.

As soon as Kohli started reading out his speech, Congress MLAs stood up from their seats and started shouting slogans and showed placards in the House.

Even as Kohli continued reading his speech, these MLAs gathered near the Well and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, alleging her failure on several fronts.

The Congress MLAs raised slogans on the issues of police action against Patel quota agitators, alleged favours to the business partners of CM's daughter in land allotment, illegal sale of liquor, rampant corruption, scarcity of water, among others.

Amid the slogan-shouting and raising of banners in the House, Kohli continued his speech for almost 20 minutes. Later, when Congress MLAs rushed near the Speaker's chair, Kohli stopped his speech midway and left the House.

The state budget for 2016-17 will be presented tomorrow by Finance Minister Saurabh Patel. The session will end on March 31.

In his speech, Kohli mentioned several initiatives taken by the the BJP government in recent times. He also mentioned about Mukhyamantri Yuva Svavlamban Yojna, a scheme launched recently to provide financial assistance to the students of Economically Backward Class (EBC).

Kohli also apprised the House about the bills to be tabled in this session. In total, seven bills will be placed in the House in coming days.

These include Gujarat Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, Gujarat Stamp (Amendment) Bill, among others.