Guwahati: Coronavirus Scare: State Assembly Budget Session Curtailed

GUWAHATI: The daily business of the ongoing Budget session of the Assam legislative assembly has been curtailed as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was taken during an all-party meeting convened by Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami on March 20.

The House will reassemble on March 24 for the remaining half of the Budget Session, and will conclude on March 30.

Wazed Ali Choudhury, chief whip of the Congress Legislature Party said, "It was decided to curtail the normal business of the House. The Question Hour will take place daily and Cut Motion and other Budget-related matters will be taken up. However, there will be no Zero Hour of Special Mention and other such devices. In addition, the Speaker’s Initiative, which was scheduled for March 28, has been deferred to the next session”.

The time allotted for discussion on Cut Motion and the number of speakers will be reduced.

Arrangements are being made to screen anybody who entes the Assembly premises and only a limited number of officials are allowed. Further, only one member from each media organisation will be allowed entrance.

However, general visitors including students are completely barred from entering.