AIUDF legislators walk out of the Assam Assembly on Tuesday. Picture by UB Photos

Guwahati, March 28: The Opposition AIUDF legislators may have found comparison with crows “unparliamentary” but the treasury bench views it differently, with a senior minister in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet today singing paeans to the winged creatures to drive home the positive connotations associated with it.

Assam power minister Pradyut Bordoloi, the minister in question, in his description of the crow soon after question hour, listed its many virtues, much to the delight of the House. The day’s proceedings were conducted in the absence of Opposition MLAs, who continued their boycott as Speaker Pranab Gogoi did not heed their request to withdraw his alleged “unparliamentary remark” comparing AIUDF legislators to crows yesterday.

The AIUDF had cited alleged discrimination between erosion-hit families of Dhemaji and those of Dhubri and Barpeta by way of government assistance, triggering the remark from the speaker.

Bordoloi asserted there was a lot of positives associated with the bird. He cited Kalidas, who, he said, used the crow to describe the beauty of a woman.

He then cited how a crow helped in protection and conservation of environment, how it is revered by both the Hindus and Parsis while conducting rituals associated with death, like offering “pinda”.

“It is also known for its team spirit and camaraderie. You will find its reference in the Panchatantra. In short, there is nothing unparliamentary about it. Had it been okay had they been referred to as raj ha (swan)? Is it because of the colour of the crow?” Bordoloi asked, leaving most in splits.

The Speaker thanked Bordoloi for his description but said he used the word because they (AIUDF) had created such a din that neither he nor the minister could understand what they were demanding. He said he was not concerned about the Opposition’s boycott, as he had said nothing unparliamentary.

Speaking to The Telegraph later, Gogoi said it was not his intention to hurt the sentiments of anyone and that he was the last person to bow to pressure tactics.

“I have not done anything unparliamentary. They have misunderstood me and some people have misled them. I have heard that they (the AIUDF legislators) asked some persons what I actually meant,” Gogoi said.

BJP legislator Prasanta Phukan said outside the House that the boycott would continue, harping on the negative connotation associated with terms such as crow and monkey.

“Will it be okay if I call somebody monkey and then defend it by saying they were our forefathers?” Phukan asked.

AIUDF leader in the Assembly Sirajuddin Ajmal said a meeting of all Opposition parties will decide its next course of action by tomorrow morning.