Noisy start to UP Budget Session

The Budget session of Uttar Pradesh legislature on Wednesday got off to a noisy start with Opposition parties staging protests and disrupting the customary address by Governor Ram Naik to the joint sitting, from which the BJP stayed away. As soon as Naik reached the podium to read his address, Opposition members, including those from Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and Rashtriya lok Dal, raised slogans demanding recall of the Governor and dismissal of the Akhilesh Yadav Government.

Protesting members were displaying placards which read: “Samvidhaan Virodhi Rajyapal, Wapas jaao” (Anti-constitutional Governor Go back),.Yeh hai Akhilesh Yadav ka Raj … Goonda Raj, Goonda Raj (This is Akhilesh Yadav’s regime dominated by goonda), Kisan virodhi sarkar ko barkhast karo (dismiss anti-farmer Government).” When the Governor’s request for order in the House went in vain, he read the first and last lines of the address amidst din and left the House barely within five minutes of his arrival.

They also carried posters alleging illegal mining, jungle and goonda-raj  in the State and the problems faced by sugarcane farmers.

Congress and RlD members also raised issues like dismal law and order, pending cane dues to the farmers and setting up of a High Court Bench in the western districts of the State. During the over month-long session, CM Akhilesh Yadav will present the 2015-16 Budget on February 24.