The Uttar Pradesh Assembly was adjourned on the first day of the winter session on Tuesday after condoling the deaths of former Chief Minister ND Tiwari and BJP legislator from Lakhimpur Kheri Patel Ram Kumar Verma.
The Legislative Council was adjourned for the day too after condoling the deaths of Tiwari and Union minister Ananth Kumar.
As soon as the Assembly met in the morning, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath read condolence messages. Leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress and other parties also mourned the deaths. After observing a two-minute silence, the House was adjourned for the day by Speaker Hriday Narayan Dixit.
Tiwari (93) died after a prolonged illness in New Delhi on October 18. The veteran leader had served as CM of UP four times, Union minister in several Congress governments and also as Andhra Pradesh Governor. He had also served as Uttarakhand Chief Minister.
BJP legislator from Nighasan constituency of Lakhimpur Kheri Patel Ram Kumar Verma (64) died due to ailments at a hospital in Lucknow on September 30. He served as PWD Minister in the Kalyan Singh-led BJP government in 1991 and also as Cooperative Minister in 1997.
As soon as the Council met for the day, chairperson Ramesh Yadav read out condolence messages and members observed a two-minute silence. Senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar died at a hospital in Bengaluru last month at the age of 59.
Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma, Leader of Opposition in Council Ahmed Hasan and leaders of other parties recalled Tiwari’s contribution in the development of UP.
Before the Upper House met, leaders of the Samajwadi Party protested near the statue of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in Vidhan Bhawan complex, demanding the arrest of the prime accused in Bulandshahr violence. “Law-and-order situation in the state is very bad. The government is yet to arrest the prime accused in the murder of inspector during Bulandshahr violence,” SP leader Hasan told mediapersons.
Hasan said that the government had announced that a CBI probe would be conducted in the Deoria shelter home case in August, but no action was taken till date.
Congress lawmakers said issues like Bulandshahr violence, alleged delay in payment of cane arrears and ‘corruption’ in recruitment drive would be raised by the Opposition during the session. At an all-party meet on Monday, Yogi had appealed to Opposition parties for the smooth conduct of the House. On the second day of the session on Wednesday, Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal will table the supplementary budget of about Rs 11,000 crore after the Question Hour. The winter session of the legislature will conclude on December 21 with the approval of supplementary budget on Thursday.
