Patna : The Bihar Assembly witnessed heated scenes on Monday as opposition MLAs cornered the government over the murder of a private hospital owner in Patna on Saturday. The issue of law and order dominated the ongoing budget session, with CPI(ML) legislators staging protests both inside and outside the House.
Before the session commenced, opposition MLAs raised slogans in the portico, demanding discussions on the murder and law and order situation. As the proceedings began, CPI(ML) MLAs moved to the Well of the House, chanting slogans and insisting on a debate. Their protest was supported by RJD legislators, who stood in solidarity from their seats.
Despite Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary’s attempts to pacify the members, the uproar showed no signs of abating. CPI(ML) MLAs remained firm in their demand for an immediate discussion.
Verbal Attacks Outside the House
Outside the Assembly, RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, questioning his silence. “Doesn’t Bihar’s CM talk on mobile? This is the same person who spoke about Digital India and predicted that the world would end in 10 years back in 2019. Six years have passed, where are we now?” Roshan remarked.
Roshan also took aim at RK Sinha’s comments on the liquor ban in Bihar, saying, “We talk about complete de-addiction, but where is prohibition in Bihar? Alcohol is available everywhere despite the ban.”
Focus on Key Departments Amid Protests
Even as chaos engulfed the Assembly, the House was scheduled to address key questions under the attention motion on Monday. Queries directed at the Water Resources Department, Disaster Management Department, and Health Department were to be answered. Additionally, the Assembly was set to table booklets on the 2025 budget, the child welfare budget, the gender budget, and the green budget in the Legislative Council.
The session may also witness discussions on increasing the honorarium for ward councillors and a potential demand for a reinvestigation into financial irregularities in universities. The question of granting minority school teachers pay parity with government teachers is also likely to be raised.
Echoes of Friday’s Uproar on National Anthem Insult
The latest uproar follows Friday’s intense protests over allegations that CM Nitish had insulted the national anthem. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had termed it a “black day for Bihar,” criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the matter. “The PM’s favourite CM has insulted the national anthem. What does the PM have to say about this?” Yadav had asked.
Posters condemning Nitish Kumar were waved inside and outside the Assembly, with RJD members demanding his resignation. “Those who insult the national anthem face three years in prison. The CM should apologise and step down,” Yadav had declared.
Rabri Devi’s Sharp Remarks
The controversy extended to the Legislative Council, where former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s microphone was turned off during her address. She had remarked, “If Nitish Kumar is mentally unstable, he should relinquish his position and allow his son to take charge. If his son is unfit, the chair should be handed over to someone else.”
