Cong, AIUDF walkout over reclassification on bamboo as grass

The opposition Congress and the AIUDF today staged a walkout from the Assembly in protest after the Congress' suggestion was not accepted in the Assam Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which was passed by reclassifying bamboo as grass.

The Bill, which was taken for consideration in Assam Assembly, sought to change the definition of bamboo from tree to grass in order to help farmers grow and sell it without legal hardship.

Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed suggested that the change of definition should be specified for bamboos grown in non-forest land only.

Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma also said the same but refused to accept it to be included in the amendment of the Bill.

Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami then proceeded to pass the Bill, on which the Congress members shouted slogans like "save the forests" and staged a walkout along with AIUDF members.

Reacting to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said the Congress is anti-farmer, anti-industry and anti-employment generation initiatives.

The House then passed the Bill.