Bihar legislature adjourned after making obituary references

Patna, Aug 4 (UNI) The opening day of the brief monsoon session of the Bihar legislature was adjourned today after taking up business enlisted for the day and making obituary references.

As soon as the members assembled in the state assembly, RJD, the main opposition party, raised slogans against the NDA government and tried to disrupt the proceedings for a few minutes. Some of the members trooped to the well waving placards demanding improvement in the law and order, end to alleged police atrocities, freeing the administration of bureaucracy and declaration of the state as drought hit.

Amid noisy scenes, Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhry welcomed the members and hoped they would cooperate in smooth functioning of the House.He said the members were expected to play a constructive role with more sensitivity. He also announced the names of Mr Harinarayan Singh, Mr Bhola Singh, Mr Abdul Bari Siddiqui, Mr Pashupati Kumar Paras and Mr Avdhesh Kumar Singh as presiding officers for the monsoon session of the House. A business advisory committee was also constituted for the current session.

In the meantime, RJD members who had trooped to the well, resumed their seats. Intervening in the proceedings, RJD's Shakeel Ahmad Khan said the short duration of four days was insufficient for raising public issues. The party demanded enhancement of the sittings.

In the upper house, acting Chairman Professor Arun Kumar welcomed the members and expected active support from them in running the business of the House.He also expressed pleasure that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi,Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ramashray Prasad Singh and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh were all members of the Upper House.

Later obituary references were made separately in both Houses.

The state assembly and legislataive council paid homage to the departed souls, including those of former MP Janardan Tiwari and Shamimuddin Hashmi and former MLAs Deepnarayan Choudhry and Singheshwar Shahi and the victims of Mumbai train blasts.

Members of the state legislative council also paid tributes to the departed leaders and BJP stalwart Pramod Mahajan, MP, Mr Abdul Mannan and Ms Vindhyavasni Devi.

Earlier the RJD members, headed by leader of opposition in the state assembly Rabri Devi, blocked the main entrance of the assembly before the scheduled beginning of the lower House over the issues they had planned to raise on the floor of the House.

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