By Vishwapati
Patna: Opposition parties made a ruckus on the 17th day of the Bihar Legislature’s budget session over the Waqf Amendment Bill. The moment the proceedings started, RJD and CPI-ML MLAs protested and went into the well of the House.
In the melee, a number of MLAs snatched up chairs and even tried to turn over tables.
With the rising commotion, Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav urged the MLAs to sit down. He said that the House had been running smoothly for 18 days and with only two days to go, business should be conducted without any halt.
However, opposition MLAs continued sloganeering and demonstrations. When things seemed to go out of control, the Speaker adjourned the House.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Reaction
Even after the adjournment, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sat on his seat and asked for a letter from CPI-ML MLA Mehboob Alam on his demands. He was reading the letter and also talking to opposition members to know why the House had been adjourned.
Later, BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary told him about the adjournment. The Chief Minister then made a gesture and asked where the Speaker had moved.
New Controversy Over Remarks on Rabri Devi
The protest by the opposition had also topped the news on the 16th session day. RJD MLAs entered the House in green T-shirts with slogans against the government. After the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, read the slogans, he made a statement in the direction of Rabri Devi that irritated the opposition.
The Chief Minister uttered, “What is yours? Your husband does all this. Does this poor woman know anything?” The RJD then accused him of disrespecting women and insisted on an apology.
Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav’s Response
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav were vehemently against the Chief Minister’s statement. On social media, they stated that his choice of words was uncalled for and a serious insult to Nari Shakti (feminine power). They sought a public apology to the women of Bihar.
What Lies Ahead?
The protest of the opposition against the Waqf Amendment Bill and the furore over the Chief Minister’s comment show increased political tensions within the Bihar Assembly. How the government reacts to the opposition’s demand in the next few days will have to wait and seen.
(The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com)
