The autumn session of the Assam Assembly began on Thursday with high drama as opposition parties staged a walkout in protest after Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejected three of their adjournment motions.
Members of Congress, AIUDF, CPI(M), and Raijor Dal took to the Well of the House, waving placards and raising slogans in response to the Speaker’s decision. Their motions highlighted concerns over high charges from smart meters, an attack on a national-level minor athlete, and restrictions on land transactions between different communities.
Debabrata Saikia, Leader of the Opposition from Congress, condemned the smart meter charges as exorbitant, while AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam criticized restrictions on property acquisitions based on religious identity, deeming them unconstitutional. Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi also voiced concerns about deteriorating law and order, pointing to police inaction in a recent assault case and the threat of bomb attacks from ULFA(I).
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika responded by arguing that the issues raised did not warrant adjournment motions and could be addressed through other parliamentary channels. Speaker Daimary concurred, rejecting the motions and describing the opposition’s actions as premeditated and unacceptable.
In a show of protest, the opposition members exited the assembly for around five minutes before resuming their participation in the session.