Guwahati: The Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday started with uproarious scene created by united Opposition, which disrupted governor Jagdish Mukhi’s speech in protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
The governor, soon after ended his tribute to Assam's legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika for being conferred the Bharat Ratna, AGP president Atul Bora raised the contentious bill issue.
The Congress, the AIU-DF along with Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLAs rushed to the well of the House displaying placards demanding scrapping of the bill.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed in Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Several organisations in the Northeast are opposing the bill, claiming it would undermine the rights of the indigenous people of the region.
The Congress and AGP continued their protest outside the house also by boycotting the tea party organised in honour of the governor after his speech.
The entire Opposition, including the Congress, the AIUDF and AGP MLAs also shouted slogans outside the Assembly. The AGP had recently snapped ties with the BJP over the bill, which was passed in Lok Sabha on January 8.
The Congress legislators came to house wearing the traditional Assamese scarf of honour, the gamusa, around their necks. The uproarious scene forced the speaker Hiten Goswami to adjourn the House for 45 minutes.
