News Analysis India

Tag: Bihar assembly

  • JD(U)’s Maheshwar Hazari elected deputy speaker of Bihar assembly amid boycott

    By PTI
    PATNA: Senior JD(U) leader Maheshwar Hazari was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly on Wednesday amid boycott of the house by opposition protesting use of force against their members when they were holding agitation against a Bill concerning the police department the previous day.

    Hazari was elected deputy speaker by voice vote in the absence of opposition members in the house.

    The opposition RJD, Congress, CPI-ML, CPI and CPI(M) kept away from the house and instead held a parallel session outside in the assembly premises after choosing RJD’s Bhudeo Chuadhary their spealer.

    Bhudeo Chaudhary had filed nomination for the deputy speaker post, but neither he nor the opposition MLAs participated in the election.

    The Grand Alliance members are protesting against Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, which the Nitish Kumar government has introduced in a bid to give its police more teeth, deemed necessary in view of the increasingly complex security needs of the state which has been witnessing rapid economic growth.

    The chief minister congratulated Hazari upon getting elected as deputy speaker and flayed the opposition for “demeaning the democracy” through their unparliamentary acts.

    Kumar said the opposition ran away from the election knowing very well that they will be defeated in the contest and indulged in “undemocratic” action outside.

    “What will they gain by doing all this?” he asked.

    The chief minister stressed on the need for the new police bill and said had the opposition raised their objections in a proper manner in the house, the government would have cleared their doubts point-by-point.

    The bill was passed by the assembly Tuesday.

    Hazari secured 124 votes in the 243-member Bihar house.

    With the BJP winning larger number of seats within NDA in the recently concluded Bihar polls, the ruling coalition has gone for a role reversal this time with saffron party’s Vijay Sinha becoming speaker and the post of deputy speaker going to the JD(U).

    Last time, when Kumar’s party was in the commanding position, JD(U)’s Vijay Chaudhary was the speaker and Amrendra Pratap Singh of the BJP his deputy.

    The Bihar assembly had witnessed an unprecedented chaos Tuesday when police was called to assist the marshals in evicting unruly opposition members who tried to physically prevent the speaker from taking his chair.

    The opposition have termed the bill a “black” legislation, taking strong exception to provisions that empower the Special Armed Police, previously known as the Bihar Military Police, to conduct searches and arrests without producing a warrant.

    Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and his MLA brother Tej Pratap Yadav had hit the streets here Tuesday against the bill.

  • Democracy murdered in Bihar, says Congress after ruckus in state assembly

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that democracy has been murdered in Bihar after opposition legislators were allegedly roughed up by the police inside the state assembly.

    The Bihar Assembly witnessed unprecedented turmoil on Tuesday and the police was called in to physically evict legislators who had laid siege to the Speakers chamber.

    Members of the opposition Grand Alliance, comprising RJD, Congress and the Left, were agitated over the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said those stripping democracy have no right to call themselves a government.

    He said the opposition will continue to raise issues in public interest and do not fear anything.

    “It is clear from the shameful events in Bihar Assembly that the chief minister is firmly under the influence of BJP and RSS. Those stripping democracy have no right to call themselves a government,” Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

    “The opposition will continue to raise issues in public interest. We are not afraid,” he also said.

    Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala urged people to raise their voice against the alleged police high handedness in Bihar where RJD and Congress MLAs were allegedly assaulted and manhandled by the police.

    He said they were raising their voice against the passage of the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill in the state assembly, that will empower the police to put anyone behind bars.

    “Democracy had been murdered in Bihar and if the people of the country will not raise their voice now, there will be no democracy left in the country,” he told reporters.

    Surjewala charged that hooliganism has become the order of the day by the JDU and BJP in Bihar.

    “Is this goes on for long, the state legislature will be destroyed as Parliamentary traditions are already compromised. How will this country run,” he asked.

    The Congress leader alleged that if the rights of elected representatives in a democracy and the voice of people is crushed like this, then the country and its Constitution will not survive.

    “I appeal to all citizens to raise their voice against this atrocity, dictatorship and against such hooliganism being spread across the country by the BJP and their friends. If you do not raise your voice now, you will also be held complicit in this travesty. All citizens should unite to raise their voice,” Surjewala said.

  • Bihar police bill passed by assembly amid unprecedented chaos

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  Amid a walkout by the Opposition after unprecedented ruckus inside the Assembly, the Bihar House passed the Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, which allegedly gives special powers to the police to search and arrest anyone without obtaining a court warrant.

    RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav beingdetained in Patna on Tuesday | ptiCM Nitish Kumar denied that the Bill had overarching powers. He said the Bill was meant to rename the Bihar Military Police and that no special powers have been given to the police. “The Opposition has not gone through the Bill,” he said, adding it was brought to convert the Bihar Military Police into Special Armed Police without any draconian powers.

    The Opposition, however, termed the Bill as a black law as it repeatedly disrupted the House proceedings, forcing adjournments five times. The protest took an ugly turn when some MLAs tried to snatch the copy of the Bill from the Speaker and turned the reporters table upside down in the House.

    After the House was adjourned for the fifth time, the Opposition lawmakers came out of the House and laid a siege to the Speaker’s chamber. After much uproar, an additional police force was summoned inside the Assembly to forcibly remove the legislators from outside the chamber. Some MLAs alleged they were manhandled.

    Earlier in the day, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took out a protest march against the Bill. The Patna police allegedly resorted to lathi-charge when the protesters broke the police barricades and allegedly threw stones at the policemen. A ruling party MLA alleged the Speaker was held captive by the opposition MLAs in their attempt to prevent the bill from being passed in the House.

  • Opposition to corner Nitish Kumar govt in House over proposed Bihar Special Police Bill

    Express News Service
    PATNA: After the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens, now the proposed Bihar Special Police Bill, 2021 is likely to snowball into a major confrontation between the opposition and the ruling government on March 23, when it will be tabled in the House.

    The opposition is learnt to have channelised its political strength in the House to oppose the proposed Bill in the House terming it a move to convert Bihar into a police state.

    On March 23, the government is likely to bring the Bill to the House for discussion.

    “The Bill is intended to convert the state into a typical police state with provisions made therein to empowering the police to arrest anyone or conduct a search without obtaining specific warrants from the competent court,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.

    The opposition has also urged the Speaker to let the draft of the Bill go through a select committee before it is allowed to be brought in the House.

    The opposition alleged that the proposed Bihar Special Bill 2021 will be misused to settle political scores and have a draconian effect on the human rights of people.

    According to RJD leader Bhai Virendra, the Bill “will violate the fundamental human rights of people by promoting excessive police actions against the people.”

  • Opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav tables ADR report in Bihar Assembly

    By PTI
    PATNA: Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Friday said he has documentary proof according to which 18 out of 31 state ministers are facing serious criminal cases.

    With Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha’s permission during Zero Hour, the RJD leader referred to a report of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) according to which 18 ministers are facing criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, and robbery.

    “Let the ADR report be made part of the proceedings. I want to table it on the floor of the House,” he said, to which the Speaker replied, it is already in the public domain and there is nothing new in it.

    The report even included cases relating to a violation of the model code of conduct, Sinha said, adding that a 10-year old case for violation of model code of conduct is pending against the Speaker himself.

    “There are many more people including you (Tejashwi) who may be facing such cases,” he said while allowing him to table the ADR report in the Assembly but refused to make it part of the House proceedings.

    The RJD leader said, he had raised the issue during a debate a few days ago in the House that more than 64 per cent of ministers are facing criminal cases and “You (Speaker) had sought documentary proofs in support of my claim”.

    The Speaker allowed Tejashwi Prasad to raise the issue after Question Hour.

  • Bihar Assembly passes Lokayukta Bill

    By PTI
    PATNA: The state assembly on Thursday passed the Bihar Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that proposes to punish people filing false cases before the anti- corruption ombudsman body to prevent any waste of time or misuse of the institution.

    Four other bills passed by the Assembly during the day are the Bihar Municipality (Amendment) Bill, Bihar Taxation Disputes Resolution Bill, Bihar Civil Court Bill and Bihar Appropriation Excess Expenditure (1984-85) Bill.

    The Bihar Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was introduced by the minister incharge for General Administration Department Bijendra Prasad Yadav and passed by voice vote.

    Introducing the bill, Yadav said that the proposed legislation has been brought keeping in view the misuse of the Lokayukta institution in false cases.

    Lokayukta carries out expeditious investigation and prosecution relating to allegations involving corruption against public servants of all grades.

    It was proposed by the Lokayukta itelf that there should be a provision for punishing people filing false cases before it, the minister said.

    The Lokayukta acts of other states have the provision of punitive action against such erring persons.

    The bill proposes that a case against a person filing a false case can be filed in the district court.

    If the person is found guilty of it or for giving false testimony or filed wrong affidavit, he/she will be sentenced to a jail term of upto three years besides a provision for fine.

    Several members who moved amendments to the Bill were of the view that it will dissuade people from approaching the Lokayukta and will work against whistle blowers who expose corruption.

    The Bihar Municipality (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was tabled by Urban Development and Housing Minister Tarkishore Prasad who said that it proposes recruitment of grade C employees of municipalities at the state level.

    It also proposes to introduce Rs 20,000 fine for permanent encroachment and Rs 5,000 for temporary encroachment in municipal areas of the state, Prasad said.

    Prasad, who also holds of charge of commercial taxes department, tabled the Bihar Taxation Disputes Resolution Bill, 2021, for one time tax settlement scheme ‘Samadhan’ in respect of disputes arising out of non clearance of tax dues and penalty imposed prior to July 1, 2017 when Goods and Services Tax was implemented in the country.

    The state government had brought the scheme thrice in 2015, 2016 and 2019 and 31,177 applications were received for resolution of tax dues amounting to Rs 1127.

    55 crore under Samadhan scheme in 2019.

    The House also passed by voice vote the Bihar Civil Courts Bill, 2021.

    The existing Bengal, Assam Civil Court Act 1887 was enacted by the Centre jointly for the state of Bengal, Agra, Assam and Bihar which was a part of Bengal, Law Minister Pramod Kumar said while introducing the Bill for a debate and passage.

    Since Bihar is now a separate state a separate Civil Courts Act is necessary.

    On the passage of the Bill, Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said that the passage of the Bill marks a historic moment for the state.

    Till now we have been following an act which had been enacted by the British .

    .

    .

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should be congratulated for it, he added.

    The Assembly also passed the Bihar Appropriation Excess Expenditure (1984-85) Bill, 2021 by voice vote without any discussion on it.

    PTI AR KK KK 03182201 NNNN

  • Here’s why RJD MLA landed up with a BP machine at Bihar Assembly

    Express News Service
    PATNA: A day after chief minister Nitish Kumar lost his cool at an RJD MLA in the Bihar assembly, Dr Mukesh Raushan, an opposition legislator from Mahua, landed up with a BP measuring device and a stethoscope around his neck on Tuesday.

    Donning his apron, Dr Raushan told the media that he has come to the assembly with these devices to protest against Nitish Kumar “who frequently loses his cool these days.” 

    Referring to the CM, he said, “Our chacha gets angry very soon these days. On Monday, he got angry at RJD MLC Subodh Rai when the latter asked a supplementary question. Our guardian Nitish ji gets angry very frequently and it happens only when one has a high BP.” 

    The device brought by him will be used to check the blood pressure of the chief minister, he said, further adding that he will do so in his chamber with his permission. 

  • CM Nitish Kumar loses cool at RJD MLC, asks him to follow decorum of the House

    Express News Service
    Bihar Chief Minister lost his cool at RJD MLC Subodh Rai who reportedly interrupted the state rural development minister during supplementary questions in the assembly on Monday.

    The incident, that left everyone surprised, took place when the minister was replying to a supplementary question raised by RJD MLC Mohammad Farooq. Even as the answer was underway, Rai stood up and tried to raise another supplementary question, leading CM to lose his cool. 

    Citing the rules and decorum of the House, the chief minister chided Rai by stating that one should till the answer to one question is completed before raising another supplementary query. 

    Kumar further got irritated when Rai started arguing with him. “You know the rules first and follow the decorum of the House,” the chief minister said. 

    Kumar also asked senior RJD MLC Ram Chandra Poorve, sitting next to Rai, to explain to the new members how to talk in the House.

    Despite all this, when Rai did not follow the CM’s suggestions, Nitish Kumar angrily asked him, “We are still speaking and you are interrupting us. Is this the way?”

    After the Chairman’s intervention, Subodh Rai sat down. 

    “I have explained the rules of asking questions in the House. I have no problems with anyone. You have questions, but follow the rules of the House,” CM said. 

    Earlier in the session, the chief minister was also angry with RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh. 

    Speaking to the media, Rai said that the RJD will boycott the presence of the chief minister in the council and protest against his attitude towards the Opposition. 

  • AIMIM MLA stirs row in Bihar Assembly after govt raises issue of population control

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Akhtarul Iman, AIMIM Bihar chief, on Wednesday courted controversy when the issue of population control was raised in the state assembly.

    Speaking to the media, Iman said, “Those who domesticate dogs should not talk about population control.” The MLA further clarified that his statement was made for those people who are blaming a particular community for the increase in population. If the government really wants to make laws, then people of all sections must sit together and discuss to find out a solution, he said. 

    It is because of poverty and helplessness that property has landed in the hands of the powerful people, not due to the increasing population, Iman alleged. 

    The AIMIM MLA stirred up a hornet’s nest in the state assembly when the issue was raised in the state assembly by the ruling NDA government. Backing this issue, when BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur said that people of a particular community are causing a rise in the population, Iman said, “Those who have the manhood will be able to produce the kids.”

    Stepping up his attack on the ruling NDA, the AIMIM MLA said that India is a very big country and everybody has the freedom to live here. “There are some people who are hellbent on vitiating the atmosphere through such issues, but they will never succeed in their plans.”

    This is not the first time that Iman is making news. He had objected to the word ‘Hindustan’ written on his oath paper during the swearing-in ceremony. He cited the Consitution to use ‘Bharat’ instead in the newly formed Bihar Assembly, taking the then acting Speaker Jitan Ram Manjhi by surprise. 

    BJP spokesperson Dr Nikhil Anand said Akhtarul Iman is following his party national president Asaduddin Owaisi in making controversial statements to get attention.

  • No one dies of starvation in Bihar, claims CM Nitish Kumar in Assembly

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar Assembly witnessed a stormy session on Tuesday on the issue of paddy procurement. The Opposition’s demand to extend the deadline of paddy procurement was rejected by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar while discussing the Governor’s address made in the house.

    Rejecting the extension demand made by the Opposition, Nitish Kumar said “the state government has procured more than 35 lakh metric tons of paddy as compared to only 72,000 metric tons in 2004-2005.”

    “No one starves in Bihar as there is an increase in agricultural production. The agriculture road-map has increased the productivity in the state giving major impetus to production of crops, vegetables and fruits,” the Bihar CM claimed. He also added that nearly five lakh farmers sold their paddy crops to the state government. 

    He said “demand for extension of procurement deadline is not justified and will not be possible.”

    Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav created a din along with legislators of opposition demanding sacking of the state agriculture minister alleging “dismal performance” in the paddy procurement.

    The Chief Minister went down heavily on the opposition for these allegations.

    “The state has got larger budgetary allocation from Rs 23,885 crore in 2004-5 to more than Rs 2.18 lakh crore in 2021-22. Now, the paddy production has increased to 108 lakhs metric tons compared to the 52 lakhs metric tons in 2005-6”, Kumar claimed.

    Taking a sharp jibe in the state assembly against Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish Kumar said that when Kumar was the minister in Centre, Tejashwi played in his laps. “Jab main waha tha tab ap godi me the. Ham godi me nahi uthayein hain?…(When I was there in Centre, you were a child. Haven’t you played in my lap),”

    “Some people have the habit of finding faults even in the good work done in the state”, Kumar further attacked Tejashwi.

    The Chief Minister also claimed that the paddy procurement was started when he came into power in Bihar. 

    “It did not happen in the earlier government of a party of which some people are creating hue and cry over it”, CM taunted, adding that the paddy procurement in 2004-5 was just 72,000 metric tons but now more than 35 lakh metric tons.

    He also silenced the opposition leaders, who walked out, quoting figures that the state has increased production of paddy to 108 metric tons, fruits to 44 lakhs metric tons and vegetables to 167 lakh metric tons.

    Kumar said that per capita income of people in Bihar has increased from Rs 7,735 per capital in 2005-2006 to Rs 50,735 per capital in 2020-21.

    Tejashwi Yadav, other legislators of parties in the opposition, including the AIMIM walked out from the House when the CM Kumar continued talking.

    The CM also out rightly rejected the demand of AIMIM legislators for making Purnia as the second capital of state for proper development of Seemanchal areas.

    “Demand for making Purnia as second state capital is unwarranted and unnecessary. It does not make any sense. We are committed to develop all areas equally and have done this in the last 15 years”, Kumar said.

    Making a scathing attack on Congress party’s demand to re-open liquor shops in the state, Nitish Kumar, showing the paper of Congress Party membership slip to the House, said “what type of leaders are the! The leaders swore to abstain from alcohol but now demand the re-opening of liquor shops.”

    Kumar said that Bihar is progressing with developmental activities in all spheres.