Assam assembly winter session to begin from December 20

• Image Credit: Internet

• Dec 18, 2021 | Sourav Boruah

Ahead of the beginning of the winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, over time it has become a common sight outside the Assam secretariat, protestors from various organizations come up and hold protests so that the government pays attention to various demands made by the group of protestors. But it has become a matter of concern over the years whether the demands made by the group of protestors are fulfilled or not?

Most of the time, despite many promises by the government, none of the demands and issues by the protesting groups get acknowledged by the government. But as always, the common man can only hope of his voice or his requests to the government being heard by the one in power.

This year Assam Governor Prof Jagadish Mukhi has summoned the winter session of the Assam Assembly from December 20, 2021. Assembly sources said that it will be a five-day session up to December 24.

The bills to be presented in the winter session of Assam assembly are :

·          The Assam Co-operative societies amendment bill 2021

·          The Sonowal Kachari autonomous council amendment bill 2021

·          The Deori autonomous council amendment bill 2021

·          The Assam tribal development authority (repeal) bill 2021

·          The Assam Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribe reservation of post in service amendment bill 2021

·          The Guwahati Municipal co operation amendment bill 2021

·          The Assam Municipal amendment bill 2021

·          The Assam excise amendment bill 2021

·          The right of fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition rehabilitation and re-settlement amendment bill 2021.

·          The Assam fixation of ceiling on land holdings amendment bill 2021

·          The Assam recruitment commission for analogous posts for class 3 and 4 bill 2021.

·          The Assam cattle preservation amendment bill 2021

·          The Assam police amendment bill 2021

However, the opposition leaders demand various other social and economical issues be discussed and put up in the winter session of the Assam assembly.

In the summer session of the Assam assembly, Raijor Dal president and independent MLA from Sivsagar constituency, Akhil Gogoi’s first day in the state assembly after coming out of jail saw a direct confrontation with state Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma and The BJP brigade in the house.

Gogoi who along with the entire Opposition who wanted to bring a motion of adjournment to discuss the alarming inflation issues was allegedly not allowed to bring any such motion or query.

Gogoi alleged, “It’s a shame that the ruling party did not want to discuss the most important topic of the day which is the rising prices of essential commodities. Since price rise is something highly affecting the common people therefore not discussing the issue of the commoners is nothing but fascism. We will not allow it and I will continue to explore devices of the house to bring it up again and again.”

Moreover, The Assam Assembly passed a Bill to regulate slaughter, consumption, and transportation of cattle, notwithstanding the walkout staged by the Opposition parties in protest against the government's refusal to forward the legislation to a select committee.

The ruling BJP members shouted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans and thumped desks as soon as Speaker Biswajit Daimary announced the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 as passed. The lone Independent legislator, Akhil Gogoi, had walked out of the House when the Bill was taken up for consideration.

The Opposition Congress, AIUDF, and CPI (M) had urged the government to refer the Bill to an Assembly select committee for vetting, but Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, during his reply on a discussion on the legislation, rejected the proposal.

Sarma, in his response, said the Bill had no bad intention and claimed it will strengthen communal harmony.

The opposition would definitely demand all such issues including various ongoing scams in the state to be put up for discussion in the winter session of the assembly.

It will be interesting to watch if the ruling party comply with the demands of the opposition or more ‘walk out’ to be followed.