The opening day of the budget session of Tripura Assembly on Tuesday witnessed chaos over the recent incidents of rape and atrocities against women in the State.
Opposition Congress members staged a walkout after trying to prevent Governor Devanand Konwar from reading his speech.
Congress members rushed to the Well of the House as soon as the Governor began his speech. They demanded that he speak on spate of alleged incidents of rape and other crimes against women in Tripura.
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The Opposition members carried placards with slogans against the CPI(M) Government. After half an hour of chaos, the slogan-chanting members staged a walkout.
"Crime against women is a burning issue now in Tripura. But the Governor has not spoken a single line on it, so we protested," said former leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath.
Mr. Nath later claimed that at least 20 women and minor girls were raped or gang-raped in the past one and a half month. There were also many incidents of kidnapping, molestation and murder of women, he told newsmen.
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The House transacted normal business after the initial pandemonium.
Finance Minister Badal Choudhury said the State Government is not averse to paying State government employees on par with Central government employees if the Centre offered financial support.