UP assembly monsoon session to begin on Friday

The week-long monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh assembly will begin on Friday.

The session, which will see the government presenting the supplementary budget, is likely to be a stormy one as the opposition - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) - is together against the Samajwadi Party (SP) government.

While the onslaught on the Akhilesh Yadav government may not be a united one, keeping in mind the differences in ideologies of the opposition parties, the state government is set to come under fire from different ends.

While the BSP said it will raise the issue of the worsening law and order situation in the state and growing atrocities on the weaker sections of society, mainly the Dalits, the BJP is likely to rake up the issue of crimes against women and the arrears of sugar cane growers.

The Congress has voiced its disgruntlement at law and order, power situation and the off and on communal riots in the state.

Pradip Mathur, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, told IANS that the SP government had failed on all fronts and even the chief minister appears to be helpless.

"We are accountable to the people of the state and will discharge our duties inside the House in accordance," he said.

Suresh Khanna, leader of the BJP legislature party, said the party will not spare the ruling party for its hands-in-gloves policy for the corrupt and will attack it on law and order and the pitiable condition of the farmers in the state.

The principal opposition, the BSP, has also decided to put the government on the mat and said there was no dearth of issues against the "corrupt, incompetent and useless" government.

Citing recent deaths in police stations, state BSP president Ram Achal Rajbhar said the party will rake up the law and order situation in a big way.

The other issues the party will raise would be cane arrears, support price to farmers and compensation to them after the unseasonal rain and hail.

Chief whip of the ruling party and cabinet minister Ambika Chowdhary said the government is not afraid of any questions and was ready for debate and discussion.

"Every issue related to the welfare of the people of the state will be discussed and we will respond with facts as the government is doing good work in all sectors," he elaborated.