UP assembly adjourned amid opposition protests

Lucknow, Feb 9  The Uttar Pradesh assembly's proceedings were disrupted on Tuesday as the opposition raised protests over a boy's killing in celebratory firing and attack on journalists in Shamli, forcing the adjournment of the house till Wednesday.

As soon as the house assembled, members belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began raising slogans and waved posters and banners against the government.

Members of the BSP walked out to protest what they dubbed a "breakdown of law and order machinery" in the state even as a debate was to be held on Tuesday on the governor's address to the joint session of the legislature.

The Congress accused the government of failing to protect the people and also raised the issue of recent attacks on journalists.

Congress Legislature Party leader Pradip Mathur said his party gave a notice for a discussion on the matter but it was not accepted.

BJP legislators raised slogans against the Akhilesh Yadav government over Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mohammad Azam Khan's statement last week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a closed-door meeting with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at the residence of Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif during his brief stopover in Pakistan in December last year.

Angry over the opposition protests, Azam Khan said the legislators creating a ruckus were rioters. Soon thereafter, the house was adjourned till Wednesday.

The legislative council proceedings were also adjourned till Wednesday.

BSP leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui said law and order in the state was precarious and that farmers were in a mess even as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was patting himself on the work done for the welfare of farmers.

Ruling party legislators, however, said action was taken in the Shamli incidents and that the opposition was scared of Akhilesh Yadav's popularity and the good work done by his government.