The Uttar Pradesh Assembly touched a new low on Monday as Samajwadi Party legislators disrupted the joint address of the legislature by Governor Ram Naik by blowing whistles in the House.
Carrying posters and placards cards denouncing the Yogi Adityanath government, the SP MlAs also threw paper balls at Ram Naik made from the copy of the Governor’s address. The Marshal and watch and ward staff of the Assembly had a tough time protecting the Governor from the paper missiles.
However, undeterred by the unruly behaviour of the SP legislators, the Governor continued to read out his speech amidst the din and completed his address in 35 minutes which concluded at 11.35 am.
Many SP MlAs stood on their benches while others trooped to the Well of the House and climbed the tables of Assembly reporters and kept throwing paper balls during at the Governor all through his address and also raised slogans. Despite the best efforts of the Marshal, some paper balls hit the Governor.
The Governor repeatedly tried to pacify the unruly SP MlAs saying that the whole of UP was watching their conduct and they should discipline themselves. But his pep talk went in vain and the din continued.
For the first time in the history of any state Assembly in India, Doordarshan made a live telecast of the proceedings on Monday. Along with the SP, members of the Congress and Bahujan Samaj party also joined the slogan shouting against the Governor and the state government.
Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is a member of the legislative Council, led the SP protest in the presence of his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav. Akhilesh kept smiling during the Governor’s address as his MlAs busied themselves in blowing whistles and throwing paper balls at Naik.
Akhilesh was seen telling Congress legislature party leader Ajay Kumar that today their lung power would be under scrutiny, as they had shouted during his government and he would like to see their talent also. SP MlC Rajesh Yadav blew the whistle continuously while SP MlA from Kanpur Irfan Solanki led the paper ball pelting group.
Earlier, the Governor was given a ceremonial welcome for the first time with a guard of honour and Speaker of the Assembly, Chairman of the Council and the Chief Minister accompanied Naik in a procession to the Assembly. As soon as the Governor entered the Assembly hall, the Opposition members went berserk and raised slogans against the government.
The slogans raised by SP, BSP and Congress members were - ‘Bhagwa brigade ki goondagardi bandh karo’ (stop saffron goondaism),’BJP ne kisano ko dhoka diya’ (BJP has befooled the farmers), ‘Kanoon dhawst, Yogi mast’(law and order has crumbled, Yogi is enjoying) and ‘Samajwadi Pension bahaal karo”(restore Samajwadi pension).
later, Speaker Hridya Narain Dikshit thanked the Governor for addressing the joint session.
Senior SP member Azam Khan and expelled BSP MlC Naseemuddin Siddiqui were absent during the Governor’s address. BJP legislator from Garauth in Jhansi Jawahar Rajput, reached the Assembly on a bullock cart which became a photo op for the lensmen. The MlA claimed that he travelled on the cart to thank Chief Minister Adityanath for announcing the farm loan waiver.