Guwahati: The opposition Congress and AIUDF on Monday shouted slogans against the BJP-led government in Assam in the state Assembly during the address of Governor Jagdish Mukhi forcing him to end his speech abruptly.
As soon as the governor began his address at the one-day special session, opposition members stood up and protested against the new citizenship law and deaths of five persons in police firing during anti-CAA protests in the state last month.
Carrying posters and placards, MLAs of the Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) trooped to the well of the House and started shouting slogans.
The governor’s voice could not be heard in the din and he ended his address within minutes.
Speaker Hiten Goswami announced Mukhi’s speech to be taken as read. In his speech made available to the media, the governor said his government has given top priority to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people and preserve their identity and heritage.
“In order to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people over land, my government has adopted a new Land Policy and also brought a law to protect the rights of the indigenous people of the state over land,” the Assam governor said.
The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 has been amended to facilitate removal of encroachment from all religious institutions like Sattras (15th century monasteries set up by Vaishnavite polymath of Assam Srimanta Sankar Deb), he added.
Mukhi also said the Centre has also set up a high- level committee to suggest measures for the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and the panel is expected to submit its report shortly.
The Assam government has also taken up an ambitious programme, “Bhasa Gaurav Achoni”, to preserve and promote Assamese and other indigenous languages, the governor said. He said the government will also bring a legislation to make it mandatory to teach the Assamese language as a compulsory subject in English medium and other schools soon.
He also said the government has taken a number of steps to fulfil aspirations of various ethnic communities of the state.
Assembly ratifies bill
The Assam Assembly unanimously ratified the Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill, extending quota to SCs/STs in Lok Sabha and state legislatures by another 10 years.
A special one-day session of the assembly was held to pass a resolution ratifying the bill cleared by both Houses of Parliament.
After receiving approval of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the bill needs to be endorsed by 50 per cent of the assemblies before it comes into force. (PTI)
