The Budget Session of the Assam Assembly concluded with a whirlwind of controversy as Opposition and ruling party members clashed over the repeal of the Marriage & Divorce Registration Act. Tensions escalated as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made impassioned declarations against child marriage, promising to eradicate the practice from the state.

In a charged atmosphere, CM Sarma declared, “As long as I am alive, I will not let child marriage take place in the state,” vehemently opposing the Opposition’s criticism of the government’s decision to repeal the act. He went on to challenge his political adversaries, asserting, “I will shut down this shop before 2026,” referring to the alleged exploitative practices in Muslim marriages.

The opposition, primarily comprising Congress and AIUDF members, strongly opposed the government’s move, criticizing it as detrimental to the interests of minority communities. AIUDF MLAs staged a protest earlier in the day in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the Assam Assembly, decrying the cabinet’s decision to repeal the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act.

However, their attempts to raise an adjournment proposal for a detailed discussion on the issue were rebuffed by the Speaker, leading to a tumultuous scene with opposition members resorting to anti-government slogans. Despite the disruptions, CM Sarma was eventually given the floor, where he reiterated his commitment to ending child marriage and abolishing what he referred to as the “KAAZI system.”

The session witnessed further chaos as Congress MLAs walked out in protest, and AIUDF members continued to voice their dissent against the government’s decision. Opposition lawmakers accused the ruling party of stifling their voices, alleging that their microphones were forcibly switched off.

CM Sarma further reinforced his stance on social media platform X, asserting his determination to protect the future of innocent Muslim children and eradicate exploitative practices.