Patna/Bhagalpur, March 2: The Legislative Council witnessed uproarious scenes and a walkout by opposition members today over alleged threats by JDU MLA from Gopalpur, Narendra Kumar Niraj alias Gopal Mandal, that he would slash the tongues of his political rivals.
The MLA had said this yesterday while talking to mediapersons in Bhagalpur.
The moment the Question Hour started, BJP MLC Lal Babu Prasad raised the issue. He was joined by BJP state party president Mangal Pandey and several other legislators, including Harendra Pandey, Rajnish Kumar, Sanjay Mayukh and Nawal Kishore Yadav, who demanded an adjournment motion and state government's reply on the matter.
"The legislators belonging to the ruling parties have gone berserk. They are talking about taking the law in their hands. We are feeling insecure. The Gopalpur MLA has used abusive language against Sushil Kumar Modi, who is a member of the Legislative Council. It is the responsibility of the House to protect him," Mangal said.
As the ruckus increased, Legislative Council chairperson Awadhesh Narayan Singhsaid that he, as well as, the Upper House members was serious over the issue and requested the BJP MLCs to allow the Question Hour to function, and not to press for adjournment. "The government is ready for discussion on the issue. Please allow the Question Hour to function. Don't press for adjournment and raise the matter in some other form," Awadhesh added.
Outside the house, Sushil pointed out that MLAs belonging to the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance were continuously indulging in criminal activities, and were being patronised by chief minister Nitish Kumar.
In Bhagalpur, former BJP MLA Shailendra Kumar alleged that the Gopalpur MLA was trying to create terror in the region by issuing such threats to his opponents. "The ruling party legislator made such objectionable remarks at a public meeting at Naugachhia," Shailendra said.
Warning his opponents, the MLA had said: " Main pahle Gopal Mandal hoon, baad mein MLA. Mera ek pair jail main rehta hai, aur ek pair bahar. Main jail mein jane se hi neta bana hoon (I am Gopal Mandal first and an MLA later. I have been in and outside jail. I became a politician after going to jail).
He didn't stop there. He dared his political rivals to touch his party men. "Those insulting him and his party workers will find no place to hide," a BJP activist in Naugachhia, a small town in Bhagalpur, quoted the MLA as saying.
The MLA had earlier threatened a DSP rank officer for not following his diktats. The MLA's supporters had attempted to push a constable into the Ganga from Vikramshila Express in November last year. Later, he visited Barari police station and set his supporters free from police custody who were detained.
When asked the reason for his sudden outburst, the MLA said he visited the house of a resident last week after his neice felt the need to answer nature's call. "It was dark and we were near Bhawanipur. So we visited a nearby house. Initially, the house owner refused to open the door, but he opened after I introduced myself. The next day, some BJP workers created a scene and forced the house owner Phatto Pandit to lodge an FIR," he added.
The case was registered with Rangra police station.
