Patna: 67 opposition MLAs in Bihar were
suspended for unruly behaviour and marshalled out as utter
chaos prevailed inside and outside the Assembly today during
which a slipper was flung at the Speaker and a woman member
threw several flower pots around.
The slogan-shouting members who included 42 RJD MLAs
were suspended by Assembly Speaker Udai Narain Choudhry for
the rest of the monsoon session with both the Assembly and the
Legislative council in the poll-bound state witnessing turmoil
for the second straight day. They were marshalled out one by
one by the watch and ward staff.
More drama prevailed outside the Legislative Council
when a suspended Congress MLC Jyoti Kumari animatedly threw
flower pots and created a ruckus when the watch and ward staff
tried to prevent her from entering the house. A hysterical
Kumari was dragged a few feet by three women watch and ward
staff from the Council premises.
The scene inside was no better when RJD MLC Sanjay
Prasad removed a microphone and hurled it triggering angry
responses from the treasury benches.
RJD MLA R C Paswan, who was marshalled out of the
Assembly, reportedly fainted at the gate of the house. He was
taken in an ambulance to a government hospital.
The suspension of the MLAs came shortly after around 80
opposition members taking a cue from their opposition
counterparts in Karnataka spent the night in the well of the
two houses of the state legislature.
The Opposition who are on a dharna is demanding the
resignation of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over a CAG
report which alleged financial irregularities in the state.
As the watch and ward staff lifted RJD MLA Bablu Dev,
his colleagues rushed to his rescue. In the melee, a slipper
was thrown towards the Speaker`s podium. It was not
immediately known who had flung the footwear which, however,
did not hit the Speaker.
State RJD President Abdul Bari Siddiqui and RJD deputy
leader in the Assembly Shakeel Ahmed Khan were among those
suspended.
Besides the 42 RJD MLAs who were suspended from the
Assembly, the other members who faced action included 11 from
LJP.
Opposition members yesterday overturned desks and
chairs, broke microphones and virtually came to blows with
ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance MLAs on the floor of the houses.
Today`s action against the MLAs came after they
disobeyed the directive of the Speaker to let the House
function.
A resolution for the suspension of the MLAs was brought
in the House by state parliamentary affairs in-charge
Brijendra Prasad Yadav, which was passed by voice vote amid
protests by opposition members.
Later, the Speaker ordered that all MLAs protesting in
the well of the House be marshalled out of the House.
The Opposition MLAs and MLCs said they would continue
their dharna in both the Houses till their demand is met.
"We will not lift the agitation till this corrupt
government resigns", RJD deputy leader in the Assembly
Shakeel Ahmad Khan said.
Council Chairman T K Jha had yesterday suspended 14
opposition MLCs for the day. Following unruly scenes in the
House. PTI AJK PR DV After 16 MLAs were initially marshalled out, the minister
Yadav once again brought a fresh resolution seeking suspension
of all the Opposition MLAs for their unruly behaviour today in
the house, which too was adopted by voice vote.
When contacted, the Speaker`s office confirmed that in
all 67 MLAs on dharna were suspended for the rest of period of
the monsoon session scheduled to end on Friday.
After the Opposition MLAs were marshalled out, Deputy
Speaker Choudhary charged the speaker with "being partial and
acting at the behest of government” and called for his
resignation.
"It is a shame for the parliamentary democracy and
lowered the prestige of the constitutional posts," Choudhary
said while apparently referring to the security personnel
disallowing him from entering the state assembly last evening
after the offices were closed.
"Either Choudhary should quit or I will quit," he said
and left the House in a huff with the state minister Yadav
Opposing Choudhary`s remarks against the chair.
PTI
