Adjournments galore in Bihar Legislature

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA, MARCH 14. The ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal, along with its allies and the Left parties, paralysed the functioning of the State Legislature and demanded the dismissal of the NDA Government at the Centre following the fictitious defence deal exposure by Tehelka.com.

The parties forced numerous adjournments of the Assembly and the Upper House. Both the Houses transacted no business and the financial business of passing the demands for the Health Department was completed amid commotion without a debate in the Assembly.

The RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, led the protest, trooping into the well of the House even before its commencement and provoking the BJP members as they made their way in. Efforts of the Chair to restore order not only failed to make any impact but worsened the situation.

The Speaker, Mr. Sadanand Singh's order to evict a CPI(M-L) member evoked protest from other Left parties and some members climbed on top of the reporters' table and staged a dharna in the well.

Unable to restore normality, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly within 10 minutes of its commencement. The stand off between the RJD and the BJP continued unabated even during the adjournment. They jostled with each other and almost came to blows.

Two further adjournments failed to douse the passion of the RJD and the Left leaders. Things were no different in the post-lunch session and the Speaker felt compelled to adjourn the House again, to sit only at the fag end to facilitate the passage of the demands of the Health Department.

Mr. Yadav served the demoralised BJP, Samata Party, JD(U) and the Lok Jan Shakti their own bitter medicine in lethal doses. He accused the BJP-led Government of being anti-national and betraying the security of the country.

Amid the din, the Speaker assured the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Ramchandra Purve, that he would give his ruling on a proposal of the CPI(M) leader, Mr. Ram Deo Verma, to move a resolution urging the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, to dismiss the Vajpayee Government.

In another development, the CPI(M) general secretary, Mr. Harkishen Singh Surjeet, contacted Mr. Yadav and resolved to join hands with him to take the issue to its logical end - resignation of the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee. Both of them felt the Tehelka visuals were sufficient evidence and there was no need for any probe.

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Section  : Other States
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