Uttar Pradesh government may bring bill to check organised crime

The Yogi Adityanath government is likely to bring Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Bill (UPCOCB) during the brief winter session of state legislature commencing on Thursday.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had given indications in this regard during budget session of state legislature early this year. The Opposition has consistently targeted the Yogi Adityanath government on law and order related issues.

Besides tabling five ordinances, promulgated after budget session, during the winter session, the state government also proposes to present the first supplementary demands of grant for 2017-2018 on December 18. The state government proposes to get the supplementary demands passed on December 19. The tentative programme indicates that the house will continue till December 22.

The Opposition that had boycotted the house at the end of budget session is likely to attend the winter session and may demand that there should be more sittings of the house. Speaker Hridaya Narain Dixit has convened an all meeting to ensure smooth functioning of the house on December 13. “I have invited leader of opposition parties to the all-party meeting convened on December 13. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will also attend the meeting,” said the speaker.

Leader of Opposition Ram Govind Chaudhary was not available for comments. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Ajay Lallu said his party would attend the house and target the government on law and order and other issues.

Uttar Pradesh Prayagraj Mela Pradhikaran Allahabad Ordinance 2017 is one of five ordinances to be tabled on floor of house. The state government had promulgated the ordinance to set up Kumbh Mela Authority to create infrastructure for Kumbh Mela and Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The state government had decided to rename the Ardh Kumbh Mela as Kumbh Mela and the Kumbh Mela as the Maha Kumbh.

The other four ordinances are Uttar Pradesh Excise (amendment) Ordinance 2017, Uttar Pradesh Junior High School (Payment of salaries to teachers and other employees) (amendment) Ordinance 2017, Uttar Pradesh Basic Education (amendment) Ordinance 2017 and Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Societies (amendment) Ordinance 2017.