Opposition leaders demonstrate outside the Assembly on the issue of kidnapping a schoolboy during the budget session. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, March 14: The Opposition today stalled proceedings in the House in the pre-lunch session demanding the government to make a categorical statement on the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital.

The incidents, they said, included demands of chanda from the construction company engaged in building the sports complex for the National Games, loot from Apollo Hospital staff and a jeweller, the abduction of Prashant Kumar, a schoolboy.

Soon after the session began, BJP chief whip and Ranchi legislator C.P. Singh raised the issue, saying the crime incidents have registered a steep rise in recent days. Supported by other Opposition members, he wanted the Speaker to ask the chief minister to make a statement on the law and order situation.

Deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi’s reply that the government would make a statement only after getting report from the administration infuriated the Opposition further.

Speaker Alamgir Alam urged the agitating members to allow the House to carry on its scheduled business. The government will submit a statement during the session, he assured. However, the Opposition members trooped into the well, raising slogans against the government. Leader of Opposition Arjun Munda said the failure of the police in taming criminals in several cases have emboldened them. For example, the police have failed to trace Prashant Kumar abducted around one month ago.

The Speaker, thereafter, adjourned the House for half an hour. When the House reassembled, chief minister Madhu Koda said the details of all the incidents could not be readily available.

He said the government had “taken these incidents seriously and would deal with the criminals sternly”.

Koda said the sports complex is the symbol of national pride. So, the government will not spare the local goons, who are trying to disturb its construction, he added.

However, Koda’s statement failed to pacify the Opposition, who again trooped into the well, shouting slogans against the government.

Munda, later, told newspersons that the government could never be able to control the law and order situation.