The Assam Assembly was briefly adjourned on Monday amid chaotic scenes after Speaker Biswajit Daimary rejected three adjournment motions moved by opposition members. Congress party and independent MLA Akhil Gogoi moved two resolutions on the first day of the autumn session, seeking a discussion on the state government’s decision to teach maths and science in English from Class 3 in local secondary schools.
The AIUDF, in its proposal, wanted to discuss the series of eviction drives carried out across the state and the status of dispossessed families. An adjournment motion is an extraordinary process which, if adopted, sets aside the ordinary business of the House to discuss a certain matter of immediate public importance.
Introducing his party’s proposal, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said: “The decision to provide education in English will have an adverse effect on school children… Therefore, we need to discuss it urgently.” Supporting Saikia, Gogoi said the Assam government’s decision is contrary to the Centre’s national education policy, which lays more emphasis on learning in the mother tongue. “The administration is shutting down schools and also through mergers and amalgamations. They have also stopped provincialisation,” he alleged.
Speaker Biswajit Daimary said the issues in the three notices were important, but refused to adjourn the House for discussion on them. “These topics are already being discussed through other means. Akhil Gogoi’s notice has already been raised through a question from an MLA. Congress notice is scheduled for Zero Hour.
“The notice of AIUDF can also be discussed in any other way. I don’t think the adjournment is necessary,” he said. Disagreeing with the resolution, Congress MLAs and Gogoi went to the Well of the House and held placards in their hands to press for their demands.
The sloganeering by opposition members led to chaos, which was opposed by the ruling legislators. The Speaker then adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
When it gathered again after about 20 minutes, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Piyush Hazarika said the government was ready to discuss the issue of teaching in mother tongue in the House if the matter was taken up through other means. Later the Congress party and Gogoi withdrew their adjournment motions.
Meanwhile, AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said the party’s notice should be taken into account as it pertains to human rights violations. Daimary asked them to take up the issue through other means, but the AIUDF members continued with their demand and staged a walkout.
read all Latest Politics News And today’s fresh news Here