UP Budget session ends abruptly

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, February 28

The Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha’s Budget session came to an abrupt end on Friday a week before its scheduled adjournment on March 7.

Protesting against the unexpected adjournment, the Samajwadi party MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary, sat in the House wearing masks. “We will not utter a word and the government can run the Vidhan Sabha as it wishes. They do not want the Opposition to raise issues of public interest so we are wearing masks to keep our mouth shut,” said Chaudhary.

He said the Vidhan Sabha was an important platform to raise issues of public interest. “Clearly, the government is not ready to face it hence the House has been adjourned after merely 10 sittings,” he pointed out.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called upon the SP legislators to take off their masks and speak freely in the House. At this, Chaudhury gestured to the CM to speak but he did not.

Meanwhile, Yogi tabled a proposal to raise the MLAs’ development fund to Rs 3 crore per year from the existing Rs 2 crore.