Protest Erupts in Assembly Over Budget Session Shortening

Congress legislators protested in the state assembly demanding an extension of the two-week budget session. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar highlighted urgent issues like joblessness and water scarcity. Allegations of corruption and a transport scam were also raised as key discussion points.

Legislators from Congress staged a protest in the state assembly on Monday, the opening day of the budget session, demanding its extension beyond the set two weeks concluding on March 24. Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, carried placards and wore black masks as they demonstrated in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue within the assembly grounds.

Addressing reporters, Singhar shared that he had formally requested the government to prolong the session, a plea that went unaddressed. He expressed concerns about persistent issues such as youth unemployment, the availability of fertilizers for farmers, rising debts, and water shortages as summer approaches, advocating for an extended session to thoroughly deliberate these matters.

Singhar alleged that even ruling party MLAs were encountering difficulties and suggested that the state government was avoiding discussions to smother corruption allegations. He asserted that Congress will spotlight an alleged transport scam involving the recovery of disproportionate assets by the Lokayukta police and Income Tax Department from a former state transport department constable.