Guwahati: The crow and its cawing has become the most-debatable matter inside and outside the Assam Assembly as the entire Opposition continued its boycott of the proceedings for the second day on Wednesday against the Speaker comparing Opposition AIUDF’s noisy protests inside the House with cawing of the crow yesterday.
The Opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BJP boycotted the assembly for the second day today, demanding that the Speaker’s remarks be expunged from the records.
Speaker Pranab Gogoi too remained defiant in not apologizing for his remarks and maintained that his expression of comparing the AIDUF ruckus with the crows’ cawing was not derogatory in any manner.
The matter was raised in the House after the Question Hour by Power Minister and government spokesperson Pradyut Bordoloi.
In a nearly 10-minute speech, Mr Bordoloi went on to mention the reference to crow in mythological tales and stories in a positive way.
He even invoked Nelson Mandela and the issue of discrimination on the basis of colour, stating that the crow’s black colour perhaps made the Opposition to take umbrage.
Other Treasury bench members too tried to defend the Speaker, pointing out that Mr Gogoi had used the expression of ‘cawing like a crow’ for the noisy protests of the AIUDF and it could not be deemed derogatory.
The Opposition members, however, remained firm in their decision to not participate in the House proceedings till the expression was expunged.
Over 80,000 ha of Assam’s land encroached
Over 80,000 hectares of Assam’s territory is under illegal encroachment of five neighbouring states, the government said on Wednesday.
In a written reply to the state legislative assembly, Assam Border Areas Minister of State Siddique Ahmed said the land is under occupation of Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.
The encroached lands are in 14 districts of Assam — Tinsukia, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural, Goalpara, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj.
Over 59,000 hectares have been encroached by Nagaland followed by 15,000 hectares by Arunachal Pradesh and the rest by the three other states, Ahmed said.
Over 59,000 hectares have been encroached by Nagaland followed by 15,000 hectares by Arunachal Pradesh and the rest by the three other states, Ahmed said.
The minister added that Assam has already approached the Supreme Court to have the lands occupied by Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh back. In addition, efforts are being made by Revenue and Forest departments to evict the encroachers. (Agencies)