BJP, allies protest attack on journalist in Bihar

Patna, August 3: Opposition BJP-led NDA today strongly protested beating up of a journalist of a Hindi daily in Bihar Assembly and demanded security for mediapersons in the state.

Navneet Kumar, the journalist of Hindi daily 'Hindustan', was yesterday beaten up in Vaishali district yesterday when his attackers were protesting an item written by him about beating up of a bus operator on Monday for hiking fare.

Senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav raised the issue during the Zero Hour and attacked the state government for failing to provide security to members of the fourth estate.

Soon Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and other BJP and its allies LJP, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party members rose from their seats and raised slogans against the Grand Secular Alliance for attack on the scribe.

However, Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD President Lalu Prasad who represents Mahua seat, had left the Assembly some time before the strong BJP protest.

Nand Kishore Yadav said after the killing of Hindi journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in Siwan, now another mediaperson has been beaten for publishing news about thrashing of a bus operator.

The senior BJP leader, who is former Leader of Opposition, expressed grave concern over the attack on journalists which he said reflected poor law and order condition in the state.

PTI