BJP workers stall UP Assembly proceedings, bring Lucknow to halt

Lucknow, August 24

Normal life was thrown out of gear here on Wednesday as BJP workers protested against alleged deterioration in law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, even as the issue was raised vociferously in the state Legislature leading to washout of Question Hour in both the Houses.

BJP workers were lathi-charged by police, who also used water cannons when the workers rushed menacingly to gherao Vidhan Bhawan where the proceedings of the Legislature were on.

Outside the Legislature complex, party workers virtually laid siege to the arterial thoroughfares creating massive traffic snarls and affecting movement of ambulances and school vans.

Heavy police force and barricading was seen in and around Hazratganj, the busy commercial area in the state capital, and GPO complex close to the Assembly building.

However, determined BJP workers, led by some party MPs and MLAs, broke the security cordon forcing police to use water cannons to disperse them.

The issue had an echo in both state Assembly and Council where the Question Hour was stalled amid uproar created by BJP members, who stormed the Well to raise law and order and other issues.

As soon as the Assembly met at 11am, BJP members trooped into the Well raising slogans against the Samajwadi Party government. They held placards and banners highlighting issues like "poor" law and order, power crisis and sugarcane dues of farmers.

BSP Legislature Party leader Gaya Charan Dinkar also sought to corner the state government on the law and order front.

Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey tried to pacify the members and asked them to return to their seats but as his plea went unheeded, he adjourned the House till 12.20 pm.

When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed and in the prevailing commotion, the Chair took up the supplementary budget and the related appropriation bill.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, in his speech, accused the Centre of not providing adequate funds to the state.

"BJP members should gherao Parliament as the Centre is not giving due share to UP," he said.

After the Budget was passed by voice vote, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

The Council too witnessed turmoil as BJP members stormed into the Well and raised anti-government slogans, leading to its adjournment initially for one hour, then till 3 pm and finally for the day.

Amid the uproar, the supplementary budget, as passed by the Assembly was tabled and later returned without discussion. — PTI