SP, Cong stage walkout over Aligarh episode

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 24

The dark shadow of violence over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was visible in the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Monday as the Samajwadi Party and Congress members staged a walkout over the issue of baton charge on women protesters.

As soon as the House assembled after a long weekend, Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chowdhury of the Samajwadi Party raised the issue of police lathi-charging women protesters and using tear gas shells against them in Aligarh on Sunday.

Responding to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna charged him of wasting time of the Vidhan Sabha by raising the same issue every time.

“I want to ask who is encouraging the protests and who is affected by the law (CAA),” asked Khanna.

Chowdhury demanded to set aside the agenda to hold a discussion on the issue during the Question Hour and charged the minister of trying to avoid it.

Khanna said, “We are ready to respond to every issue but maintaining law and order is our government’s priority.”

Not satisfied with the government’s response, the SP MLAs staged a walkout from the House. Following their steps, Congress Legislative Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona too walked out charging the government of committing atrocities on women.