Patna: The concluding day of the winter session of Bihar state legislature witnessed heated protests from BJP-led Opposition parties, sparked by Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar’s contentious remarks about former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)’s patron, Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday.
Ahead of the Legislative Assembly proceedings, Manjhi staged a dharna at the Assembly building’s gate. Simultaneously, in the legislative council, BJP MLCs raised slogans on the portico, demanding CM Nitish’s resignation for what they deemed an insult to Manjhi.
The legislative Assembly faced multiple adjournments due to relentless protests and slogans by BJP MLAs, who insisted on an apology from CM Nitish. In response, the Speaker asserted that the question of an apology did not arise, prompting BJP MLAs to gather at the well of the Assembly.
Leader of the Opposition in the legislative Assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha, sought permission from the Speaker for Opposition MLAs to speak, to which the Speaker insisted that all members return to their seats first. Only then, he declared, would permission be granted.
Upon the return of BJP MLAs to their seats, the Speaker announced that government resolutions were in progress, and speaking would not be allowed. A brief verbal exchange ensued between BJP MLA Janak Ram, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Speaker.
Finally, the Leader of the Opposition was permitted to speak. Expressing concern over two incidents within the house, Sinha said, “Women and Dalits have been insulted. The entire Bihar has been embarrassed by this.” Sinha insisted that Manjhi be allowed to speak.
As Manjhi’s attempts to address the Assembly were thwarted, BJP members staged a walkout in protest. Following the adjournment of the legislative Assembly until 2 pm, a heated altercation unfolded between RJD MLAs and BJP MLAs on the Assembly building’s portico.
During this altercation, RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan distributed laddus to celebrate the passage of the Reservation Amendment Bill in the Assembly. However, tensions escalated when Lakhendra Paswan of the BJP threw the box of laddus at the RJD MLAs. The situation was defused with the intervention of several MLAs from both sides.
