Patna, March 8: The Bihar Legislative Council usually witnesses verbal duels among male legislators but on International Women's Day, former chief minister Rabri Devi and BJP state vice-president Kiran Ghai had a spat.
Allegations and counter-allegations flew thick and fast, as legislators egged the warring ladies on, leading to adjournment of the Upper House till the post-lunch session.
The skirmish began with Kiran moving an adjournment motion at the beginning of the Question Hour over the government's failure to arrest Nawada RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Prasad, accused of raping a minor, and absconding for one month. She raised other incidents of crime against women by legislators belonging to the ruling Grand Alliance.
"The government claims to empower women but its legislators indulge in eve-teasing, kidnapping, molestation and rape. No strict action is taken against them. It seems they are protected and patronised by those in power," Kiran said.
An uproar broke out among the ruling combine MLCs, as BJP legislators waved placards bearing slogans on insecurity of women in the state.
Fiercely countering Kiran, Rabri said the government had already attached Raj Ballabh property. The absconding MLA belongs to her party, headed by husband Lalu Prasad.
Council chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh quickly rejected the adjournment motion, saying it was not brought up according to the rules of proceedings of the House.
At this juncture, Leader of opposition Sushil Kumar Modi requested the chairman that women legislators be allowed to speak during the Zero Hour to which the chairman promptly agreed and said: "Zero Hour will be reserved only for women."
Kiran pointed out that not only the victim was not getting justice and her family was living in mortal fear, "women across the state were feeling afraid as such incidents are happening on a daily basis". Retaliating, Rabri alleged that more crime took place in BJP-ruled states in comparison to Bihar. During the free-for-all shouting match, Grand Alliance MLCs chanted "shame shame" and Awadhesh promptly adjourned the House.
