Bihar BJP and RJD cross swords over 'Surya Namskar' row

The Bihar assembly's month long budget session began on Monday with a stormy note as the main opposition party, RJD and the ruling coalition partner BJP locked horns over the issue of "Surya Namaskar".

Earlier this month, the Education Department issued a circular to government schools to ensure attendance for "Surya Namaskar" function to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on Monday. However, following objections of several religious organisations, the state government amended its circular and made the participation optional for students. On Monday the main opposition party accused the state government of foisting RSS agenda. Midway through the Governor's address during the inaugural session, RJD MLA Akhtar-ul-Imam jumped up from his seat and said, "The state government is foisting RSS agenda on the people by making the students offer "Surya Namaskar" in government schools." As soon as RJD raised this issue, the treasury benches swing into action. State Health Minister Ashwini Choubey and Animal Husbandry Minister Giriraj Singh condemned Imam with top of their lungs.

Some BJP lawmakers led by Nityanand Rai trooped into the well of the house and advanced aggressively towards the opposition benches before senior ruling and opposition leaders pacified them and asked them to resume their seats. Some of the BJP MLAs also raised the slogan of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and termed the critics of "Surya Namaskar" as anti national elements. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi tried to pacify the situation.

The Governor Debanand Kunwar was also heckled by Congress MLC Kumari Jyoti during his address over alleged corruption in Vice Chancellors appointment. She repeatedly interrupted Kunwar. At first he ignored her, but when she continued to disrupt him, the Governor lost his cool and admonished her with a stinging remark about her being the only disruptive element present in the house.