'Will break your mic': BJP MLA threatens Opposition legislator inside Assam Assembly

Guwahati: The Assam Assembly witnessed an uproar on Friday when Rupjyoti Kurmi, an MLA of the ruling BJP, threatened to break the microphone of an Opposition MLA after another member tried to intervene when he was speaking during a discussion.

"I will come and break your microphone" Kurmi, the four-time MLA from Mariani constituency in central Assam, was heard saying inside the Assembly. Kurmi also charged towards Congress MLA and the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Debabrata Saikia.

Kurmi was speaking during a discussion on a cut-motion related to the Public Works Department (PWD). The budget session of the Assembly is under way. Kurmi, who switched over from Congress to BJP in 2021, got agitated when Akhil Gogoi, an MLA of Sivasagar constituency, and the leader of Raijor Dal, a regional opposition party, questioned him about the poor condition of Dhodar Ali, a heritage road in eastern Assam. The BJP MLA was talking about works done by the PWD.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is also the PWD minister.

Kurmi's behaviour angered the Opposition MLAs, who urged Deputy Speaker Nomal Monin, who was on the chair, to expel the BJP MLA for the "unparliamentary words" and "dispespectful" behaviour. The Speaker reminded him about rules of the Assembly and asked him not to repeat such behaviour.

As the Opposition MLAs continued the protest, Kurmi expressed regrets and apologised inside the Assembly.

"Such incident never happened in the history of Assam Assembly. This has exposed the arrogance of the BJP and its leaders," Gogoi told reporters outside the Assembly.