Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi talks with media persons during the first day of winter session of Assam Legislative Assembly in Guwahati on Monday. (PTI Photo)
Six lawmakers from BJP and nine from Congress, who had recently declared their allegiance to the opposition party, were today suspended from the Assam Assembly for the 5-day Winter Session by Speaker Pranab Gogoi for disobeying his ruling and creating noisy scenes.
Just before the beginning of the Question Hour on the first day of the session, the Speaker gave the ruling that the BJP members and those from Congress supporting it, have been suspended from the House for the entire Winter Session.
The strength of the Assembly is 126. Earlier, when the House assembled, BJP lawmaker Jadav Chandra Deka demanded scrapping of the Question Hour and holding of a discussion on the "deteriorating law and order situation" in the state.
When the Speaker did not accept his demand, all BJP lawmakers stood up and shouted in support of their demand.
Immediately, all Congress lawmakers, including the ministers, countered the opposition demand by shouting back.
The BJP MLAs then rushed to the Well of the House and pressed the Speaker with their demand. They were joined by the Congress MLAs, who had recently declared their allegiance to the opposition party but had not resigned from the ruling party.
Thereafter, more Congress MLAs rushed to the Well and shouted slogans against BJP, leading to a face-off between the members.
After the suspension, normal business began in the House with Congress MLAs returning to their seats.
Outside the House, the BJP members shouted slogans against the state government and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who holds the Home portfolio.
They also demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister for "failure" to improve the law and order situation in Assam.
After the Question Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain demanded action against the nine Congress MLAs, who have decided to support BJP but not formally resigned from the Congress.
Congress has sought termination of the membership of the nine rebel MLAs.
"Some of our MLAs walked out with BJP members and they have not resigned from the party. It proves that they have defected. There are many recommendations against defection in India. I request you to take action against them accordingly," Mr Hussain told the Speaker.
On this, the Speaker said, "I will take action as per rules."