RJD creates ruckus over 'misuse' of CBI; 5 party MLCs suspended

Opposition RJD legislators led by Rabri Devi Wednesday created ruckus in the Bihar Legislative Council over demand for immediate discussion on the "political misuse" of CBI, following which five of its MLCs were suspended for the remaining two days of the winter session.

Suspension of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members for "disrespecting the chair" further infuriated the party legislators, who later sat on a dharna inside the state's Upper House.

Congress, an ally of the RJD in the 'mahagathbandhan', joined them in the agitation inside the House and also lent support to their dharna.

The RJD has nine MLCs in the 75-member Bihar Legislative Council, while Congress has a strength of three.

The ruling JD(U) has 32 members, while its ally BJP has 22 MLCs.

The Lalu Prasad Yadav-led RJD had raised the issue of "political misuse" of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) vociferously in the Legislative Assembly too, resulting in the disruption of the House during the day.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav also joined the MLCs agitation.

The RJD has been alleging that the NDA government at the Centre was "misusing" CBI against opposition leaders, including Lalu Prasad, who is presently in a Ranchi jail following conviction in fodder scam cases.

Tejashwi told reporters that CBI was being misused with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi meeting the agency officials in Delhi regarding cases against opposition leaders.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Council Haroon Rashid gave an assurance to withdraw the suspension of the RJD members.

"In legislative business, such incidents sometimes do happen. The suspension will be withdrawn when the House reassembles on Thursday," he told PTI.

Asked whether the RJD MLCs had indulged in any kind of physical violence, Rashid said, "Nothing of the sort had happened. They had been demanding a debate on their adjournment motion without following the due process".

"Moreover, it is considered a disrespect to the Chair when the person heading the House rises and appeals to the members to take their seats, but the latter go on raising slogans. So they were held guilty of disrespect to Chair and thus suspended. But the issue has now been resolved," he said.

Following the assurance, the RJD decided to end the demonstration.

Tejashwi Yadav and his mother Rabri Devi told journalists it was a victory of the Opposition and the defeat of the government.

No government can function without the Opposition, they said..

As the Upper House commenced the days proceedings at noon, opposition members were adamant on a discussion on alleged political misuse of the CBI through an adjournment motion. Amid unruly scenes, the House was adjourned till