Patna, Feb 28 (PTI) The opposition BJP in Bihar staged a walkout from the state Assembly on Tuesday to press for removal of a minister and investigation into his alleged involvement in a murder case.
Proceedings had begun at 11 a.m on a tumultuous note with the Leader of the Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha demanding that a discussion be immediately allowed on adjournment motions moved by the Opposition.
The adjournment motions were moved against non-inclusion of the name of Israil Mansuri, a minister from the RJD quota, in the FIR relating to a murder that took place in Muzaffarpur earlier this month, and controversial remarks made about the Army by Surendra Yadav, another minister from the same party.
Some of the Opposition legislators trooped into the well but relented after a strong objection was raised by Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary.
State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Kumar Chaudhary rose to inform the House that Yadav has already explained that he had “no intention to denigrate the armed forces”.
To this the speaker remarked that the matter should be treated as closed.
However, Sinha continued to raise the issue of Mansuri, alleging that his name was “dropped” from an FIR lodged in connection with the murder of a teenaged boy “under pressure”.
The teenager Rahul Kumar was killed close to the Kanti Thermal Power Plant in Muzaffarpur on February 9 during indiscriminate firing on some labourers staging a demonstration.
The BJP has been alleging that the assailants were henchmen of Mansuri, who is also the MLA from Kanti.
Sinha waved a piece of paper claiming that it was the original complaint with which the father of the deceased had approached the police, only to be “coerced into putting his thumb impression on a blank piece of paper”.
The police had used the paper to register its FIR, he alleged.
The parliamentary affairs minister rose to his feet again and pointed out that even if the allegations were true, inclusion of the name of an accused in a case cannot be ordered by the House.
“The leader of the opposition should share his documents with the government for necessary action,” he added.
The speaker thereafter went ahead with the Question Hour, though shouting of slogans by the Opposition continued unabated and some of its members waved pamphlets inside the House.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was seated beside his deputy Tejashwi Yadav (RJD), rose to inform the House that the government is in receipt of whatever material has been made available by the Opposition.
“The matter will be thoroughly investigated,” he said.
Sinha responded saying “You have always stood for sparing no guilty. The accused, since he happens to be a minister, can influence the probe. So he must be removed for the period till he is absolved”.
The House business then continued as per schedule and the Opposition walked out in protest nearly half an hour before the end of the Question Hour at noon.
Sinha told reporters outside the Assembly, “This is a government that protects ministers involved in a murder and denigration of the armed forces. The government seems indifferent and the Chair has been partisan.
“But we will not be a mute spectator. We will keep raising these issues – from the streets to the House (sadak se sadan tak)”. PTI PKD NAC KK KK KK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.