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U.P. Assembly begins on a stormy note

Opposition members disrupt Governor's address

LUCKNOW: The first session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature in the current year was off to a stormy start on Thursday with a determined Opposition and the Congress members disrupting the State Governor T V Rajeswar's address, forcing him to leave in a huff after cutting short his speech.

As soon the Governor rose to address the joint sitting of both Houses, the Opposition and the Congress members were up on their feet shouting anti-government slogans. Carrying banners and placards inscribed with "Governor go back" and "don't let the government humiliate you (Governor)", the BJP and BSP members gave slogans despite repeated requests by the Governor. As the din continued the Governor read the first and the last paragraphs of the prepared speech and left the House after which the House was adjourned till 1230 p.m.

In his address, the Governor praised the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government for ``improving the financial health and law and order situation in the state''. "The areas once dominated by rifles and AK-47 are now home to lions, stag and deer and tourists are flocking there," Mr Rajeswar said. The government ``successfully'' controlled the naxalite violence, eliminated several dacoit gangs, brought down incidents of kidnappings and terrorism, he said.

The government brought the State out of the debt trap and increased its revenue to Rs 1123.17 crore, he said. While all State Governments succumbed to pressure of the MNCs and implemented Value Added Tax (VAT) system, the Uttar Pradesh government did not give in, he said.Elections to the village and district panchayats were held in a ``peaceful manner'', Rajeswar said.

He referred to the various welfare schemes being undertaken by the government including the unemployment allowance, Kanyadhan scheme, computer education in madrassas and irrigation and drinking water projects.

Leader of the Ppposition Lalji Tandon, however, decried the Governor for accepting the invitation of the government to address the joint sitting of both Houses.

Mr Tandon referred to the dharna against the Governor by the Urban Development Minister Azam Khan at Rampur during Rajeswar's visit recently.

He alleged that the law and order situation had worsened, while the power situation was alarming and the prices of the essential commodities were sky-rocketing. - PTI

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