Patna, March 26: There was uproar in the Assembly today after the government conceded its failure to give land and flats to ex-armymen and their widows and dependents.

On Army Flag Day on December 7, 2006, chief minister Nitish Kumar had announced flats and land at subsidised rates to the next of kin of former defence personnel. The state home department issued a resolution to this effect with the governor's approval.

Responding to a question by JDU MLA Manjit Kumar Singh, urban development minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha quoted from a Bihar state housing board letter issued on October 7, 2006, which discontinued the quota of 10 per cent of flats and houses made by the board for this section and left the government with the discretionary quota.

The minister said the government could not give flats and houses to this section because of the board's decision.

The JDU MLA expressed surprise. 'The orders were issued by chief minister. The home department issued a resolution to this effect and it had the governor's approval. How can the government not implement its own decision by quoting a letter written two months before the decision was taken,' Manjit asked.

Abdul Bari Siddiqui, RJD leader in the House, too expressed outrage. 'Has the housing board followed procedures before taking such a decision? How many houses and flats have been given to ex-armymen or their widows and dependents' Siddiqui asked as the minister fumbled for answers.

Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav said it was a sensitive matter as it involves those who protect the country's borders. 'Who is responsible for such a decision,' Nand Kishore asked as BJP MLAs walked into the Well of the House raising slogans.

Siddiqui asked if the government was willing to revert the order. Finding himself under attacked the minister said the government would consider restoring the quota. Nand Kishore and Siddiqui said the minister had come unprepared. Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary agreed and deferred the question.

The Nitish government has burnt its hands on defence matters earlier too. In 2013, then rural works minister Bhim Singh had stirred up a controversy by saying people joined the army to be martyred. After national outrage, Nitish had gone into damage-control. Narendra Modi had referred to the statement during election meetings in Bihar last year.

A JDU MLA remarked: 'As it is, the JDU has a bad reputation when it comes to the army. The minister's reply is another goof-up.'

The BJP has already pounced on the government, calling it anti-national.

To another question related to construction of an inter-state bus terminus on the Patna-Gaya road in Patna, the same minister said Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Lmd (Buidco) has been asked to raise a Rs 251 crore bank loan. He said banks had asked Buidco to give loan guarantee, which it was unable to give. 'The finance department has again asked Buidco to raise funds,' Kushwaha said.

Arun Kumar Sinha of the BJP, who had raised the question, pointed out that construction work for the terminus was supposed to start four years ago. Leader of the Opposition Nand Kishore expressed surprise at the minister's reply. 'How can banks give loan to Buidco when they have already rejected the proposal on the ground of bank guarantee,' he asked. The minister said he would soon hold a meeting of officials concerned to resolve the issue.

Crackdown ire

The crackdown by security personnel on ABVP activists during their protest over deterioration of education in the state, led to a ruckus in both houses. In the Assembly, the House had to be adjourned, as BJP MLAs overturned the reporters' table and raised slogans. Nand Kishore alleged the police had brutally lathi-charged ABVP activists. Minister for rural works Shravan Kumar read out his speech on his department's budgetary demand of over Rs 6,138 crore amid the din.

The BJP refused to move the cut motion. The budgetary demand was passed by voice vote without a discussion. Earlier, BJP MLAs raised the issue of academic anarchy in the state during Zero Hour.

The Legislative Council had to be adjourned without taking up business in the second half. Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said the government had sought a report from the director-general of police (DGP) on the crackdown incident.