Decision to terminate membership of JD(U) rebels deferred

The decision on termination of the membership of seven JD(U) dissident MLAs on charges of anti-party activities was today deferred till July 19 with Bihar Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary asking four of them to submit written replies by July 16.
Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, told reporters that he and three other JD(U) MLAs, Ravindra Rai, Neeraj Singh Babloo and Rahul Kumar, separately met the Speaker with their lawyer S B K Mangalam to discuss their objection to Parliamentary Affairs Minister and JD(U) Chief Whip Shravan Kumar's petition seeking the termination of their membership of the Assembly.
"But, the Speaker directed us to submit written replies on termination notice by Shravan Kumar by July 16 and fixed the date of the next hearing on July 19," he said.

Three other dissident MLAs, Ajit Kumar, Poonam Devi and Raju Kumar Singh, who were served notice later for termination of membership, have been told to submit their written replies on July 19.
Gyanu, a friend-turned foe of former chief minister Nitish Kumar said their hope of getting justice was becoming bleak as the Speaker was not going by the merit of the case.
"The Speaker should first dismiss the petition of Shravan Kumar instead of taking his words as the law. He is playing a partisan role in the entire matter and giving one-sided decisions and directions. He is not even complying by the rules of the Assembly," Gyanu alleged.

"As the Speaker is forcing us to submit written replies to Shravan Kumar's accusations, we will now consult legal experts about it," added Gyanu.

MLA Ravindra Rai echoed similar views and said that the dissidents might approach the Patna High Court in the matter.
Asked about future plans, he said he and other JD(U) legislators had no intention to quit party and would continue fighting for democracy from within.
Hinting at Road Construction minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh Lalan, he alleged that a dissident who used to abuse Nitish Kumar from open platforms was made an MLC and a minister.