Bedlam in Bihar Assembly over protocol violation

Patna, Dec 10 (UNI) The Bihar Assembly today witnessed an acrimonious scene over the violation of protocol in a function, organised at Katihar on November 13, during which MLAs of the area felt ''humiliated''.

During the question hour, BJP MLA Tarkishor Prasad raised the issue and said the commissioner of Purnea division was invited as chief guest, while local MLAs were treated as special guests during a function, organised at Katihar on November 13, for distribution of loans under the Swarn Jayanti Gram Rojgar Samaroh.

It was a case of clear violation of established protocol to be followed in such function, he added.

Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav while replying on the issue, said the state government would issue specific instructions to officers in this regard to ensure compliance of the related protocol.

He said such incidents had occurred on several occasions during the RJD regime and it had no moral right to raise the issue.

Peeved over the Minister's remark, both ruling and Opposition members vociferously said such incidents had become order of the day during the present regime, while BJP member Bhola Prasad Singh observed that despite the government having no such intention, MLAs across the state were feeling humiliated.

He urged the Speaker to direct the state government to issue a clear cut instruction to all the officers concerned in this regard.

Lok Janshakti Party member Maheshwar Prasad Singh said undue influence of state bureaucracy had undermined the prestige of MLAs and blamed the present regime for such situation.

The acrimonious scene prevailed in the House for next 15 minutes over the issue and thereafter the entire Opposition staged walk-out raising slogans against the high handedness of the bureaucrats.

UNI