Shoe hurled at speaker, chairs thrown in Jharkhand assembly

The Jharkhand assembly witnessed ugly scenes on Wednesday as a shoe was hurled at Speaker Dinesh Oraon, his mikes were damaged and chairs and tables in the house were thrown around.

The stalemate of months between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the opposition over two land acts ended when an amendment bill was tabled and passed within minutes without any discussion on it.

When the house assembled after lunch at 2 p.m., Land and Revenue Minister Amar Bwari tabled the amendment bill amid an uproarious scene of opposing parties.

Opposition members trooped into the well of the house shouting slogans against the amendments to two land acts of the state -- Chhotanagur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Paragana Tenancy (SPT) Acts.

Some of the opposition members stood on the reporters' table and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator Polush Surin hurled a shoe at the Speaker. The Marshal of the house caught the shoe. The opposition members tore the bill copy and threw the pieces at the speaker.

After amendments, which were passed by voice vote, the agricultural land can be used for non-agricultural purpose.

When the house assembled at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, opposition members came to the well, opposing the amendments. The opposition members threw chairs and the reporters' table. The house was adjourned till 12.45 p.m. and witnessed same situation when it re-assembled. The house was adjourned till 2 p.m.

Justifying his move, JMM legislator Polush Surin said, "We are representative of the people and our voices are not heard. What can we do when people's voices are repressed?"

The BJP's ruling alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) also has opposed the bill.

"We will move the court. Our options are open. Remaining in the government is not an issue," said AJSU legislator Vikas Munda to media persons.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has condemned the incidents in the house.

--IANS

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