Bihar issue continues to paralyse Parliament

Bihar issue continues to paralyse Parliament
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 8: The Bihar issue on Wednesday rocked Parliament with agitated RJD members continuing their protest against installation of a "minority" NDA government which, they alleged, was "indulging in large-scale horse trading" to win Friday's trial of strength in the State Assembly.

The House, however, was able to hold a brief impromptu discussion to mark the International Women's Day with women members, cutting across party lines, demanding passage of the Women's Reservation Bill during the current session.

As slogan-shouting RJD members stormed the well of the Lok Sabha, Speaker G M C Balayogi first adjourned the House till lunch break. With the RJD members showing no signs of relenting, Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed adjourned the House for the day when it met after the recess.

RJD members in the Lok Sabha protested remarks by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan that the Bihar Governor had taken an independent decision as a constitutional authority in inviting the NDA to form a government.

RJD member Raghuvansh Prasad Singh charged that after the Governor's "unconstitutional" act of inviting the NDA-led minority to form the government, "large-scale horse trading" was being indulged in by the Nitish Kumar ministry.

Singh also alleged that a large number of Union ministers were camping in Patna to ensure that the NDA Government was able to secure the required numbers in view of the confidence vote slated for Friday in the State Assembly.

Mahajan, who sought to distance the Centre from the Governor's decision, said, "The Governor is holding a constitutional office and acted independently using his own discretion."

As soon as the discussion to observe the Women's Day was over, papers were tabled and Sayeed called for introduction of a bill to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and another to repeal the Indian Companies (Foreign Interests) Act, 1918.

The introduction of the first bill prompted Congress members to get into a verbal duel with Sayeed as party Deputy Leader Madhavrao Scindia alleged that the Chair was "bulldozing" them without taking the Opposition's views on the subject.

Denying the charge, Sayeed said, "I am not not here to bulldoze anyone" and observed that if members had objections at the introductory stage they should have given notice.

In the Rajya Sabha, uproarious scenes were witnessed as angry RJD members were joined by Congress and Left parties demanding an immediate discussion on the "undemocratic" conduct of Governor V C Pandey in inviting NDA leader Nitish Kumar to form the Government.

As Opposition members rushed to the front benches, Chairman Krishna Kant adjourned the Upper House for the day.