Opposition continues protest against time cap for supplementary questions in Assam assembly

The Opposition Congress on Wednesday staged a walk out in the Assam assembly for the second consecutive day over reduction of time for supplementary queries during Question Hour.

Other opposition members also joined them in alleging that time and means for them to speak about problems faced by people were being reduced by the BJP-led government.

As the House witnessed repeated noisy scenes over the issue, the state government conceded that the time limit for supplementary queries can be revisited.

A decision at the assembly's Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Monday to allot five minutes for supplementary queries for each question during the Question Hour has led to the latest stand off between the two sides.

Also Read | Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi suspended from Assam Assembly for 'disrupting proceedings'

Previously, the number of supplementary questions was confined to allowing two MLAs besides the main questioner, but no time limit was fixed.

When Speaker Biswajit Daimary disallowed supplementary queries during the Question Hour, citing the five-minute rule, Congress MLAs briefly walked out of the House in protest.

"We are not being allowed to speak. If this is the case, we can just sit at home and watch the proceedings online," Congress MLA Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha said outside the House.

AIUDF legislator Ashraful Hussain added, "Our party had so many important points to raise, which are well within the rules of the House. But, we are not given the opportunity."

Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi, who was suspended for the duration of the Question Hour for "disrupting proceedings", also alleged that voice of the opposition was being stifled.

Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said: "The decision was taken at the BAC meeting. If needed, the next meeting can discuss it once again."