Uttarakhand Assembly Monsoon Session 2023 : The Uttarakhand Assembly Monsoon Session for 2023 commenced on a somber note, with the state mourning the loss of former cabinet minister Chandan Ram Das. The inaugural day of the session witnessed Chief Minister Dhami and all House members paying their respects to the departed leader and extending their condolences.
CM Dhami, while reflecting on Chandan Ram Das’s significant contributions, expressed deep sorrow over his passing and vowed to carry forward his unfinished work for the people of Bageshwar. As a mark of respect, the scheduled Question Hour was canceled on the first day of the session.
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In a poignant moment, the session’s proceedings were adjourned at 2 o’clock, with plans to reconvene at 11 am on Wednesday, September 6, dedicating the day to remembering the legacy of the departed leader.
Even before the formal commencement of the session, Congress MLAs took to a dharna on the Assembly steps, drawing attention to concerns related to the Joshimath disaster. The protest saw the active participation of several Congress MLAs, including Khushhal Singh Adhikari, Ravi Bahadur, Madan Bisht Sumit Hradayesh, Harish Dhami, Manoj Tiwari, Furkan Ahmed, Mamta Rakesh, and Adesh Singh Chauhan.
They raised demands for suspending the encroachment removal campaign and providing immediate relief to disaster victims, emphasizing the urgency of government intervention. The opposition members also raised questions about their ability to address public issues with the session adjourned.
The second day of the session is anticipated to be marked by increased tensions, as the opposition gears up to challenge the ruling party on various issues, including disaster management, encroachment, and the Lokayukta, both within and outside the House.
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One of the central issues to be raised is the regularization of slums on government land and along traditional riverbanks in plain districts, with parallels drawn to similar concerns in hilly areas. The opposition intends to spotlight the displacement of small businesses in hilly regions due to encroachment regulations, bringing this matter to the forefront during the session.
Additionally, guest teachers, under the leadership of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, organized a march to the Assembly, demanding ad-hoc appointments. The teachers staged a sit-in on the road, vowing to persist until their demands are met.
Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan has called upon all political parties to collaborate in ensuring a peaceful session. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal is scheduled to present the supplementary budget on the House floor, estimated at Rs 11,100 crore. If passed, this budget will result in a total budget size of Rs 88,507 crore.
Although the first day did not feature the Question Hour due to the mourning period, government ministers can anticipate a deluge of questions from both their own party members and the opposition as they prepare for the upcoming session days.
Furthermore, the state government plans to introduce several bills, including one proposing a 10 percent horizontal reservation for state residents. Alongside these bills, the annual audit report of the Finance Department will also be presented in the House.
A dedicated question hour is scheduled for September 6, followed by a business advisory meeting on the same day to outline the session’s subsequent proceedings. September 7 will be observed as Janmashtami, a public holiday, with discussions and the passage of the supplementary budget scheduled for September 8.
