Congress members walk out of Assam assembly

Guwahati, Sep 4 (IANS) Congress members on Monday walked out of the Assam assembly on the first day of its session after the Speaker reserved his ruling on an adjournment motion on price rise moved by the party.

Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia moved the adjournment motion to discuss the rise in prices of essential commodities and the state's Bharatiya Janata Party government's alleged failure to check it.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, however, opposed the motion and said the issue could be discussed under other provisions related to the house functioning and the adjournment motion was not necessary.

Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami then reserved his ruling on the matter.

The Congress legislators staged a walkout, saying that the Speaker should have allowed the motion since the issue was of utmost importance to the people.

Later, senior Congress leader and former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi slammed the state government and said it had "failed miserably" in delivering on its promise to bring about 'achche din' (good days).

"The BJP promised to bring 'achche din' to the people of Assam but these are yet to come. The Speaker did not allow the adjournment motion... if rise in prices of essential commodities is not an important issue, what else is?" Gogoi told the media later.

"The Centre's economic policies are responsible. Demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax led to price rise. Besides, petrol and cooking gas prices too have increased and affected the common people," the Congress leader said.

He also accused the state government of lack of initiative to bring essential commodities from outside the state to check price rise.