On the first day of the Assam Legislative Assembly’s budget session, Opposition MLAs disrupted Governor Gulab Chand Kataria’s address over a Maharashtra MLA’s remarks on purported dog meat eating by the people of Assam.
Kataria was delivering his first address after assuming office as Governor of Assam last month. While he was saying that insurgency has reduced in Assam and the rest of the North East, he was interrupted by Congress MLA from Karimganj North Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha.
“Sir, a Maharashtra MLA said in the Maharashtra Assembly that the people of Assam eat dog meat. It is my request that action be taken against him… It is a sentimental matter for the people of Assam… You should have brought that up in your speech,” said Purkayastha.
He was referring to a statement made by MLA Bachchu Kadu during a discussion in the Maharashtra Assembly on the problems posed by stray dogs. Kadu had suggested sending stray dogs to Assam, claiming that they are in high demand in the state because dog meat is consumed by locals and also claiming that the rate for dogs for this purpose goes up to Rs 8,000-9,000 in the state.
With Speaker Biswajit Daimary trying to tell Purkayastha that the matter could be discussed later in the Assembly, Kataria tried to continue with his speech. He had to hastily wind it up when other Opposition MLAs began speaking over him and eventually staged a walkout, demanding action against Kadu.
