Bihar Assembly rocked by protest by all political parties

Bihar Assembly witnessed ruckus for the second consecutive day today with members of all major parties trooping into the well on separate issues forcing adjournment of the House till recess. Right from the word go, the House saw members of JD(U), RJD, Congress and BJP rushing to the well to protest on different issues. Ruling JD(U), RJD and Congress members were protesting BJP leader O P Dhankar's controversial remarks "Bihari brides for Haryana boys".

Opposition BJP MLAs were in the well demanding CBI probe into alleged medicines scam during the tenure of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The alleged scam refers to purchase of medicines worth Rs 100 crore from six blacklisted companies and supplied to hospitals in January this year when Health portfolio was with former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after severing ties with BJP. Holding placards, the members were shouting slogans. Except for ministers and leader of opposition Nand Kishore Yadav and a few dissident JD(U) MLAs, all other legislators were seen in the well. When persuasions failed, Speaker Udai Narayan Choudhary adjourned the House till 2 pm. The situation was volatile in the Legislative Council too.

JD(U) members sat on agitation at the main entrance of the Council shouting slogans against BJP Kishan Morcha chief O P Dhankar's remarks on brides from Bihar.

They were also protesting senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's defence of Dhankar.

While the JD(U) members sat on agitation, Sushil Modi, a member of Legislative Council, walked through them waving hands to mediapersons. In the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav later told reporters that he has given a letter to Speaker against "irresponsible" acts of JD(U) MLAs in rushing into the well without any notice for adjournment.

In his letter, Yadav sought passing of a resolution in the house to condemn activities of ruling JD(U).

In reply to a question that Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has backed protests by JD(U) legislators, Yadav said it was surprising as the state government instead of initiating any measure to check such illegal trafficking of girls from Bihar for marriage in Haryana was encouraging its members to disturb the Assembly.

"This is unprecedented in the country," the opposition leader flanked by MLAs Binod Narayan Jha, Nitin Navin and Prem Ranjan Patel said.