The Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress boycotted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath speech in the Assembly and staged a dharna in front of the chamber of the Speaker, alleging that they were not allowed to speak in the House on the issue of atrocities against Dalits.
The trouble began in the House over the detention of former MlA Yogesh Verma of the BSP for his alleged involvement in the violence in Meerut on April 2 during the Bharat Bandh called by Dalit organisations against the alleged dilution of SC ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court.
Raising the issue through an adjournment notice, BSP leader Sukhdeo Rajbhar demanded withdrawal of cases against the former MlA and his release from the jail.
lalji Verma of BSP also supported the demand and favoured release for the former MlA from the jail.
Assuring justice, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that the former MlA was involved in incidents of violence in Meerut on April 2 where large-scale arson and violence was committed and a large number of private and police vehicles were damaged or set ablaze.
Amidst the debate, BJP MlA from Hastinapur, Dinesh Khatik, demanded that he be allowed to make a statement as he was a local person and the former BSP MlA was a history-sheeter.
The BSP leaders opposed the demand citing rules of business of the House under which only the signatories to the adjournment notice could speak as this was not a debate. They said if the BJP member was allowed to speak then the members of the SP and the Congress should also be permitted to speak on this issue.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was present in the House, intervened, urging the Speaker to allow the BJP MlA to make his statement. The Speaker allowed the BJP MlA but this was opposed by the BSP leaders.
In protest against the decision of the Speaker, the BSP MlAs staged walkout. The SP and the Congress members also followed them.
Earlier, leader of opposition Ram Govind Chowdhury was involved in a heated debate with Speaker HN Dikshit over raising the issue of constitution of Gau Seva Aayog. He said that one person nominated to the Gau Seva Ayog was accused in cases of cow-slaughter.
The Speaker insisted that this issue could not be raised under Rule 300 — point of propriety. However, the leader of opposition said he had raised the issue well within the framework of the rules of business for the conduct of the proceedings of the UP Assembly and the Speaker should allow him to speak.
Chowdhury later relented and did not press the notice.
After the House was adjourned for the day, the Speaker invited the opposition leaders to his chamber but they declined the offer. Chowdhury however claimed that the Speaker admitted before the opposition members that it was not proper to allow the BJP MlA from Meerut to speak on the issue raised by Sukhdeo Rajbhar.