Guwahati, 23 July (HS): The Opposition on Thursday withdrew its cut motion on the School Education and Higher Education budget after a two-day discussion in the Assam Legislative Assembly, clearing the way for the passage of the Education Department's budget.

Concluding the debate, Assembly Speaker Ranjit Kumar Das said nearly 50 legislators participated in the discussion over two days, highlighting the importance of education. He noted that Opposition members clarified their objective was to draw attention to the need for greater investment in the education sector and that they would support increased budgetary allocation.

Replying to the debate, Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu welcomed the detailed discussion and addressed the issues raised by members. He assured the House that the government and the Education Department would work towards resolving the concerns highlighted during the debate.

Following the minister's assurance, Leader of the Opposition Wajed Ali Choudhury (Congress), AIUDF MLA Mujibur Rahman and TMC MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed withdrew the cut motion.

The debate on the cut motion, which began on July 22, continued for a second day with Congress MLAs Nurul Huda, Dr. Jay Prakash Das, Zakir Hussain Sikdar, Mahibur Rahman, Nurul Islam, Wajed Ali Choudhury and Abdur Rahim Ahmed, along with AIUDF's Mujibur Rahman and TMC's Sherman Ali Ahmed speaking in support of the motion. BJP legislators Prakash Chandra Das, Tuliram Ronghang, Pulak Gohain, Niso Terangpi, Ritubaran Sharma, Bhuvan Gam, Pavitra Rabha, Victor Kumar Das, Shashikanta Das, Kishore Nath, Himanshu Shekhar Baishya, and AGP MLA Jibesh Roy opposed the motion during the debate.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash