Guwahati, 25 November (HS): The Assam Assembly on Tuesday voted to suspend two opposition legislators for the rest of the winter session, after adopting a Privilege Committee report that held them responsible for misconduct toward Deputy Speaker Numal Momin.

The resolution, moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, named Congress MLA Nurul Huda and Baghbor MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed. Both had previously been suspended from the Congress party on separate occasions. Patowary told the House that the committee determined Huda had confronted the Deputy Speaker in the Assembly corridor during a protest in March, while Sherman Ali was found to have used inappropriate language inside the House.

According to Patowary, the committee had “clearly recommended” suspension of the two members for the remaining days of the five-day session, which began on Tuesday and ends on Saturday.

The Congress benches strongly opposed the move. Legislator Jakir Hussain Sikdar contested the findings, arguing that no CCTV footage was shown to back the allegation that Huda “attacked” the Deputy Speaker. He insisted that Huda had merely participated in a protest along with other opposition MLAs. “We cannot accept this report,” Sikdar asserted in the House.

Speaker Biswajit Daimary reiterated that the committee had concluded its inquiry and tabled its findings, which, he said, should now stand uncontested. The ruling alliance has maintained since March that Huda physically confronted Momin—an accusation denied repeatedly by both Huda and the Congress.

Sherman Ali Ahmed, meanwhile, had drawn censure earlier for using an offensive term during a House discussion, a remark subsequently struck off the official records.

The suspension adds another layer to the ongoing friction between the ruling and opposition members, underlining the tense atmosphere that has characterised the Assembly’s proceedings this year.---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash