Marathon 36-hr UP assembly session: Netas excited to speak at midnight

Close to stroke of midnight hour, it was business as usual in both Houses of Uttar Pradesh Legislature. legislators were excited as y got to speak during special 36-hour-long session held to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

While a large number of BJP MLAs and ministers were present in Legislative Assembly, it was mostly empty benches in Legislative Council as saffron party does t have a majority in House. Opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party, BSP, Congress, and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, boycotted proceedings, claiming State government is just out to set a record.

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As one MLA was quickly going through ps during his speech, Speaker of UP Legislative Assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit asked him as to how many ps were still left. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath burst into laughter. Dixit, while urging MLAs to stick to stipulated time allotted, said, "We are running late by nearly six hours, and many are interested to speak at midnight."

Refreshments to help stay awake

As MLAs and ministers were speaking in House - close to stroke of midnight - staff and security personnel of Vidhan Bhavan were having ir dinner, which was served to m in packets. After dinner, staff could be seen sipping tea so as to keep mselves refreshed for rest of night shift.

Leaders paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri as y begin ir speeches. While Rajendra Pratap Singh (Moti Singh), Cabinet minister for Rural Development, Overall Vill Development, was speaking in Legislative Assembly, it was Surya Pratap Shahi, Cabinet minister for Agriculture, Agricultural Education, Agricultural Research, delivering his speech in Legislative Council.

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Sources said around 700 staff and security personnel are on duty, and three canteens of UP Vidhan Bhavan are running round--clock for special session. Arrangements have been made to serve lunch, high tea and dinner to legislators as well as staff, with special care on serving food to those observing fast in view of ongoing Navratra.

Outside House, Bapu Bhavan, which houses many offices of UP government, wore an illuminated look, while sprawling Vidhan Bhavan was buzz with activities as security personnel deployed at various entry points kept a strict vigil on visitors and passersby.

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special 36-hour session in both houses of Uttar Pradesh legislature to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary began on Wednesday, amid a boycott by Opposition. Chief Minister Adityanath said Opposition's boycott was t only an "insult" to Far of Nation but also a "contempt" of House.

Setting proceedings in motion, Speaker Dixit said such a session was never held in parliamentary history. "It's unfortunate that opposition leaders, who agreed for session, are t present. Probably y did t remember that y had given consent for session," he said.

One Congress member attends

Only members of ruling BJP and its ally Apna Dal were present. Earlier in evening, Congress MLA from Rae Bareli Aditi Singh participated in special session, defying her party's decision to boycott event. Asked about speaking in House despite boycott by Opposition, she said, "If you heard my speech, I only spoke about development and sustainable development goals. I practice politics way my far used to do it - whatever I feel is correct, I do it." Singh said she came to House and participated in discussions as she felt that it was an appropriate thing to do. When asked if she had deviated from party line, she said, "I rose above party line and tried to speak on development. This is my first and foremost priority."

To a question of wher party will initiate action against her, Singh replied, "It is party's call and whatever decision y will take, I am ready to accept it. I did whatever I felt was appropriate." About any new step she was taking, she said, "For me, big decision is to work more in constituency." 

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