Opposition walks out in Assam Assembly

GUWAHATI: The entire opposition in the Assam Assembly staged a walkout today protesting over not being allowed to discuss the recent violence in Golghat district along the Assam-Nagaland border and the killing of a school girl by NDFB-Songbijit militants in Chirang district.

An uproarious situation prevailed in the House with opposition MLAs protesting that they were not being allowed to discuss two such important matters of public interest despite them appealing to the Speaker in advance for discussing the issues today.

BJP's Prasanta Phukan alleged that the government was adopting an escapist attitude by not participating in the discussion on the two important issues.

Phukan said the talks should have been allowed as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on August 25 assured the House to discuss the two issues today.

A noisy scene prevailed with the opposition MLAs shouting against not being allowed to discuss the issues and nothing could be heard in the din.

Parliamentary Minister Nilamani Sen Deka said the two issues could not be discussed as per law for they were sub-judice with Opposition AGP's Jagadish Bhuyan and Zoii Nath Sarma filing a PIL in the Gauhati High Court on August 25 on the incident of police firing at Rangajan in Golaghat district on August 19 and 20.

The killing of the 16-year old school girl could not be discussed as a case was filed in the Assam Human Rights Commission on the issue by another AGP leader Kamala Kalita, Deka said.

In protest, the entire opposition comprising 44 MLAs from AIUDF, AGP, BJP and BPF staged a walkout.