NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Assembly speaker Satish Mahana disclosed on Tuesday that certain Assembly members were spitting in the Vidhan Sabha hall following their consumption of pan masala.
During his address to the members prior to the House proceedings today, Mahana shared that upon learning of the incident, he personally undertook the cleaning of the affected area.
Although he had identified the MLA responsible through video footage, he chose not to disclose the name to prevent public embarrassment.
Mahana revealed that he had personally ensured the stains were cleaned and urged legislators to discourage such behavior among their colleagues. He stressed that such acts tarnish the dignity of the House and must be avoided.
Appealing for accountability, the speaker called upon the MLA responsible for the act to step forward and confess.
The incident has sparked discussions on maintaining discipline within the Assembly, with many legislators supporting the speaker’s call for upholding the sanctity of the House.
“This morning, I received information that in this hall of our Vidhan Sabha, some Member has spit after consuming pan masala. So, I came here and got it cleaned. I have seen the MLA in the video. But I do not want to humiliate any individual. So, I am not taking their name. I urge all Members that if they see anyone doing this, they should stop them. Keeping this Assembly clean is our responsibility. If the MLA in question comes and tells me that they have done this, it will be good; otherwise, I will call them,” he said.
Meanwhile, on February 20, Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the state budget for the financial year 2025-26.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted that the new budget reflects a 9.8% increase compared to the 2024-25 budget, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure development.
Addressing a press conference, CM Yogi said, “This budget is over 8,08,736 crore Rs, which is 9.8 per cent higher than the 2024-25 budget. On one hand, the growth in the budget size reflects the state’s strength, while on the other hand, it also shows the commitment of the double-engine government.”
He also emphasized that Uttar Pradesh, which was previously ranked 6th or 7th in terms of economic strength, has now emerged as the second-largest economy in India.
