Patna, July 27: Business in the monsoon session of the Assembly from Monday is poised to be rough.
Most of the 115 MLAs of the BJP and RJD are likely to be in the well of the House for most of the time, pressing for an adjournment motion on the death of 23 children in Chhapra, terror attack in Bodhgaya and a host of other issues.
“On Monday, we would press for an adjournment motion on the Chhapra tragedy in the Assembly and on the Bodhgaya blasts in the state Legislative Council,” former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told The Telegraph.
The RJD, which finds itself playing second fiddle to the opposition, is also gearing up for a major showdown with the Nitish government. “We are the original opposition party and would move adjournment motions on the midday meal tragedy, Bodhgaya blasts, police firing in Bagaha and violence in Jamui.
“We’ll also raise the issue of deteriorating law and order in the state,” said RJD leader in the Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui. His party would seek an extension of the session as it concludes on August 2 and has just five working days.
The State Legislative Council business advisory committee has decided to allot time for a special debate on the midday meal tragedy on Tuesday. But the Assembly is yet to decide whether or not it wants a special debate on any issue as the House business advisory committee is yet to meet.
The BJP is insistent on raising the Uttarakhand flood issue, too. But the government is reluctant as it took place in another state. But the BJP says “inadequate” steps taken to rescue Bihar residents trapped in the deluge needs to be raised in both Houses.
The adjournment motion moved by the opposition has to be accepted by the Speaker. Once that happens, the House proceedings are stopped and a discussion on the issue is held. The adjournment motion is considered a grilling of the treasury bench. “Looking at the track record of Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary who has never accepted an adjournment motion. Chaos and disruptions are bound to take place through the session,” said a BJP MLA.
The session is taking place at a time when parties are going in poll mode. The BJP is holding its Viswasghat (betrayal) Rally in districts. The JD(U) is holding district-level meetings to build up its strategy for 2014 Parliament polls.
The RJD is also making noises about Lok Sabha polls and its determination to get back its dominant position in Bihar. “In such a situation, who would be interested in House proceedings and questions and answers? Scoring political points will be the goal,” said an RJD MLA. The government has to pass the supplementary budget for the current financial year apart from other business.
BJP on obituary
Former BJP minister Chandramohan Rai denied that Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary had shown a list of persons whose obituary references were to be made. Reacting to a report in the The Telegraph which quoted the Speaker as saying the list was approved at an all-party meet on July 24, he said, “I represented BJP in the absence of leader of the opposition... The Speaker did not show us any list.”
