Ranchi, Aug 25 (PTI) Chaos reigned supreme in the Jharkhand Assembly on Monday as both ruling and opposition MLAs demonstrated, forcing Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato to adjourn the House thrice during proceedings.
The MLAs of the opposition BJP and its allies demanded a CBI probe into the death of tribal leader Surya Hansda in a police encounter and return of land, proposed for a hospital project here, to farmers.
Members of the ruling JMM and the Congress, on the other hand, protested the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, MLAs of both sides trooped into the Well and started raising slogans.
The speaker urged the members to go back to their seats, but they continued their demonstrations. Amid the ruckus, the House was adjourned first till 12.30 pm.
“Members have important questions today. I feel sad to adjourn the House,” he said.
As the House reassembled at 12.34 pm, BJP MLAs Raj Sinha and Alok Chourasia moved separate adjournment motions over Hansda’s encounter and the land acquisition for the RIMS-2 hospital project, respectively.
The motions were rejected by the speaker, who said discussions on the issues could be taken up on a later date.
Demanding a reply from the government on the issues, BJP MLAs trooped into the Well.
Members of the ruling parties followed them to the Well, protesting the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to bar a Prime Minister, chief ministers, and ministers from holding office if they remain in jail for 30 days or more.
Amid the ruckus, Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled CAG reports on ‘Integrated Financial System in Jharkhand’ and ‘State Finances for the year 2023-24’.
The speaker adjourned the House after 10 minutes of functioning till 2 pm.
The House resumed after lunch break around 2pm with debate on the supplementary budget, which was tabled in the House on August 22.
Starting his speech, BJP MLA Satyendra Nath Tiwary compared Surya Hansda with former chief minister Shibu Soren, which was protested by the treasury bench and demanded that his remarks on it be expunged.
“Surya Hansa was following the footsteps of Guruji, and he was fighting for the rights of tribals,” Tiwary said.
Reacting to this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said comparing the ‘Disom Guru’ (leader of the land) with a person with criminal tendencies was unfortunate.
“I urge the Speaker to expunge Tiwary’s remarks from house proceedings,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi said a person having political background should not be declared a criminal only on the basis of cases.
“Hansda contested four assembly polls. We know he was facing 24 cases, but acquitted in 15 cases. He was on bail for the rest of the cases. The court did not declare him a criminal. Shibu Soren, whom we call Disom Guru, was also facing many cases. We just want a probe into the Surya Hansda case by the CBI,” Marandi, Jharkhand BJP president, said in the House.
JMM legislator Hemlal Murmu said Hansda was accused in multiple murder cases including the murder of a JMM block president Sunil Tudu.
“The BJP is playing the tribal card. A criminal is neither a Hindu nor a Muslim nor a tribal but a criminal only,” he said.
Hansda, who contested multiple assembly polls, was arrested from Nawadih village in Deoghar on August 10, and the alleged encounter took place when he was being taken to Rahadbadia Hills to recover hidden weapons.
He had allegedly snatched a weapon from the police and fired at them while attempting to flee custody. The police retaliated, resulting in his death.
BJP MLA Tiwari also raised the issue of land acquisition at Ranchi’s Nagri for the multi-crore hospital (RIMS-2) project.
The Speaker asked if these were relevant for the supplementary budget discussion. On this, Marandi said they want to stop the government from misusing the budget amount.
JMM MLA Hemlal Murmu said the BJP doesn’t have any issue and they are misleading people in the Surya Hansda case.
BJP members trooped into the Well of the House demanding government’s reply on Hansda ‘encounter’. MLAs of ruling parties also demonstrated at the Well.
Then, the Speaker adjourned the House for the third time at around 2.36pm till 3.30pm. As the House resumed around 3.30pm, BJP’s Hatia MLA urged the Speaker for the government’s reply on the Hansda and Nagri issue.
Congress legislator Rajesh Kachchap alleged that the BJP was “murdering” democracy and the constitution by introducing the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Then, the Speaker asked the finance minister for the government’s final remarks on the supplementary budget.
Amid the speech of the minister, BJP members walked out of the House. The Supplementary budget of Rs 4,296.62-crore was passed by voice vote. PTI SAN NAM SOM SAN NN
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