Patna, Jul 22 (PTI) Opposition MLAs on Tuesday turned up in the Bihar assembly, dressed in black as a mark of protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and created ruckus over the issue by storming the well, trying to upturn furniture and jostling with marshals.
Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav hurriedly conducted the day’s legislative business in the post-lunch session and adjourned proceedings till Wednesday, about half an hour after the House reassembled at 2 pm.
Earlier, similar uproarious scenes had led to adjournment till lunch, within minutes of commencement of proceedings at 11 am.
As soon as the House reassembled, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav rose in his seat to demand that a discussion on SIR be immediately allowed, to which the Speaker did not agree.
This infuriated opposition members, who rose in their seats to shout slogans, with many of them trooping into the well and trying to upturn the furniture meant for reporting staff.
The Speaker, who was rushing through the legislative business, was a picture of exasperation as he could repeatedly be seen making remarks like “please do not do anything that could cause injury to the staff. Your behaviour is being telecast live, and it would not add to your popularity ahead of elections. Do not compel the Chair to order any stern action”.
A few of the opposition MLAs were also seen shoving aside marshals who had come to the well, trying to snatch away placards and posters which were being waved by the unruly members.
One of the marshals had his headgear snatched away and tossed aside, even as members on the ruling side, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, looked on in horror.
After the proceedings were adjourned for the day, the opposition MLAs staged a demonstration outside the chamber of the Speaker, declaring that they would not allow the proceedings until a discussion was held on SIR, which has been ordered by the Election Commission barely a few months before the assembly elections.
The opposition INDIA bloc, which, in Bihar, includes RJD, Congress and three Left parties, has been alleging that the mammoth exercise has been ordered to “benefit the ruling NDA by wrongfully deleting names of voters who were unlikely to support the BJP-led coalition”.
Tejashwi Yadav, who had on Monday met the Speaker with the request that a discussion on SIR be taken up inside the House in the ongoing five-day monsoon session, interacted with journalists.
He said, “We had moved an adjournment motion which was, sadly, turned down by the Speaker. The issues were important. The SIR has thrown up many questions like what would be the fate of people who may be living elsewhere for employment purposes but would like to return during elections to cast their votes.” The RJD leader claimed that several irregularities have come to light. “There have been reports in the media suggesting that at some places, booth-level officers are filling up and signing up forms on behalf of voters. These are grave matters which need a discussion,” he said.
“Today was the second day of the session. It is going to be the last session of the House before elections are announced. The opposition has raised its objections before the EC, which has failed to address our grievances. Where else do we now have to go except the assembly, which is the largest temple of democracy in Bihar,” asked the former Deputy CM.
He also claimed that the SIR was trying to determine the citizenship of the people.
“We have made a humble request to both the Speaker as well as the government for a discussion inside the House. We wonder why those in the BJP and the JD(U) are silent on the issue? Are they not voted by the people?” he said.
Yadav said he met the Speaker again, suggesting that if he was pressed for time, he might consider extending a day’s session by just one hour and devote the time to discussion on SIR.
“He has said that he will speak to the ruling side, but I realise his limitations. So I have come up with another suggestion, to convene a business advisory committee on the issue,” Yadav said.
The RJD leader said, “I am aghast that despite the Supreme Court’s advice, the EC is not considering inclusion of Aadhaar card and ration card on the list of acceptable documents. The EC has not even held a press conference. This raises suspicions. These are the issues that I deem to be the most important as of now.” Yadav said he was not interested in answering queries about the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and its aftermath.
“What is going to be our strategy tomorrow will be known to all in due course,” the young leader said. PTI SSS PKD NAC BDC
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