Amid opposition boycott, UP assembly passes 76 departments' budget in 15 minutes

With the entire opposition absent from the proceedings of the budget session in Uttar Pradesh assembly for the second consecutive day, the budget worth several hundred crores of 76 departments was on Friday passed in mere 15 minutes.

The Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are keeping away from the proceedings after a vitriolic attack from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday.

Tearing into the opposition, he warned them not to preaching as if he opened his mouth, many opposition leaders would not have a place to hide. Taking umbrage to this, the opposition had announced boycott of the assembly proceedings. 

The budget was passed without any supplementaries or any debate. Fourteen questions were put from the treasury benches and they were responded in 15 minutes and the budget passed.

A motion was moved in the House to congratulate election of Ram Nath Kovind as the 14th President of India. 

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna also rebutted charges by the opposition, given to the media, that the Chief Minister was unparliamentary in his language and had threatened the opposition benches. 

The budget session was to conclude on July 28 but chances are high now that it might be curtailed to July 24.

The House was adjourned on Friday till Monday and it is expected that on this day the budget of remaining departments, including Home, will be presented and passed.