Stormy Start To Uttar Pradesh Session; Paper Balls Hurled At Podium

The maiden session of the newly elected Uttar Pradesh Assembly began on a stormy note with opposition members throwing paper balls at the podium and the marshals trying to dodge them with files.

The customary address of Governor Ram Naik to the joint sitting of the two houses of the state legislature was drowned in the uproar created by the opposition. Slogan-shouting opposition members trooped into the Well despite Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit's appeal at an all-party meeting to ensure smooth proceedings.

The governor was flanked by Dixit and Chairman of the Legislative Council Ramesh Yadav. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present when the governor read the address despite the bedlam. The address is a note prepared by the government highlighting its achievements.

For the first time, the proceedings were telecast live by Doordarshan. After the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state, a decision was taken to telecast live the proceedings of the house so that people could benefit.

"Sara Uttar Pradesh dekh raha hai aap ko (the entire Uttar Pradesh is watching you)," a visibly annoyed governor told the shouting members, who kept throwing papers at the podium and creating din. The opposition, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samajwadi Party, have decided to take on the Yogi Adityanath government on the law and order front.