A short winter session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly begins on Friday with the Opposition parties determined to corner the Samajwadi Party Government on a host of issues, including the cause of sugarcane farmers and the law and order situation in the State.
According to the tentative programme approved by the Business Advisory Committee of the House, the Assembly will hold its sitting till November 21. The Supplementary Grants for 2014-15 and Vote on Account is likely to be tabled on November 17.
In a break from the past, the opening day’s proceedings would be limited till Question Hour before the House is adjourned for the day. This has been done in view of the 125 birth anniversary of the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The change has been brought at the behest of the Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Mathur.
Mr. Mathur said in a press statement that he had requested the Assembly Speaker, Mata Prasad Pandey, at the Business Advisory Committee meeting that the first day’s proceeding be suspended on account of the 125 birth anniversary of Pandit Nehru. The Speaker agreed to this, Mr. Mathur said and added that the House would be adjourned after Question Hour at 12.20 p.m. on Friday.
Referring to the issues to be raised by the Congress, Mr. Mathur said his party would take up the cause of the sugarcane farmers and would demand a price of Rs. 350 per quintal for the growers. The CLP leader said the arrears due to the mill owners was nearly Rs. 2000 crore.
The deplorable law and order situation in the State will also figure in the Congress agenda, Mr. Mathur added.
Meanwhile, at the customary all-party meeting on the eve of the House session, the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr. Mata Prasad Pandey urged all party leaders to cooperate in the smooth conduct of the proceedings. The leader of the House and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav also solicited support of all leaders and said issues concerning the people are discussed in the House.
