Opp stages walkout in Lower House on public issues

Patna, Dec 11 (UNI) The Opposition today staged a noisy walkout from the Bihar Assembly on the issues of cancellation of appointment of teachers holding Madrassa degrees and non-payment of scholarship to students belonging to SC/ST categories.

During Question Hour, Opposition members, dissatisfied with the reply of Human Resources Development Minister Vrishen Patel to a question by RJD member Maheshwar Prasad Yadav, alleged that students of SC/ST sections were deprived of the scholarships.

The members dubbed the state government as 'anti SC/ST' and shouted slogans.

Intervening, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said the minister concerned had already assured to institute a probe in case specific cases were brought to the notice of the government.

He said the Nitish Kumar government was committed to the development of the SC/ST students and had enhanced allocations from Rs 500 to Rs 900 on their food, from Rs 500 to Rs 1500 on their uniform and from Rs 4000 to Rs 7000 on their education.

The RJD members, followed by the Congress and the LJP, one by one staged noisy walkout from the Lower House in the pre-lunch session.

The RJD members, who came back after the Question Hour, created a noisy scene following rejection of the adjournment motion moved by Mr Shakeel Ahmad Khan and others over cancellation of the appointment of teachers holding Madrassa degrees.

Mr Khan, along with his party members, wanted to know the basis on which their motion was turned down.The RJD members walked out of the House describing the government as anti-minorities. Later Mr Khan, along with party spokesperson Shyam Rajak, told newspersons in the Assembly premises that the government, taking 'arbitrary' decisions,was discriminating against the minorities by cancelling the appointment of about 5000 teachers on general posts holding Madrassa degrees in Purnia division.

Earlier during zero hour, Mr Shyam Rajak raised the issue of non availability of a mental hospital saying that 16.56 lakh patients with some kind of mental disorder were forced to go outside the state for treatment.

UNI