BJP, RJD legislators walk out of Bihar assembly

Patna, Aug 2: Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members walked out of the Bihar assembly Friday, the last day of a week-long monsoon session, blaming the Nitish Kumar-led government of the failure of law and order in the state.

BJP and RJD members had earlier sought Nitish Kumar's resignation as the chief minister, saying law and order had collapsed in the state.

Both BJP and RJD members walked out from the assembly when Bihar Minister of Water Resources Development Vijay Kumar Choudhary was replying during a debate on the law and order situation.

This is not the first time that they have walked out from the ongoing assembly session on one issue or the other without listening to the government's reply.

Three days ago, Nitish Kumar described the opposition walk out as a "hit and run" tactic.

"The opposition has adopted a hit and run tactic in the state legislature by habitually walking out after making their points on various issues. They should have patience to hear out the state government's reply too," he said Wednesday in the legislative council.

Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Nand Kishore Yadav blamed the state government for its failure on the law and order front. He also trashed the government's claim of maintaining law and order.

"In the last one-and-a-half months, several incidents including Bodh Gaya serial blasts of July 7, police firing in Bagaha in which six tribals were killed, Maoist attack in Jamui and Aurangabad districts, proved a total collapse of law and order," Yadav said.

RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui also criticised the government for hiding its failure on law and order in the state.

Since the beginning of the monsoon session last week, BJP members not only disrupted the house, they have time and again forced its adjournment.

Ruling Janata Dal-United leader Chaudhary criticised the opposition members for unruly behaviour during the ongoing monsoon session.

This was the first assembly session after Nitish Kumar snapped the 17-year-old alliance of his JD-U with the BJP June 16 over a larger role being given to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP is now in its new role as main opposition in the house.

IANS