Sparks fly over SIR in Bihar House

Uproar, walkouts disrupt Assembly business; Nitish's 'child' jibe at RJD leader steps up heat

- RAMASHANKAR @ Patna

A fiery confrontation unfolded in the Bihar Assembly on the third day of the ongoing monsoon session on Wednesday when CM Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav clashed over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state in the run-up to the Assembly polls due later this year.

Sharp personal barbs, walkouts and sustained uproar marked the day. The tension escalated after the CM called Tejashwi a 'bachcha' (child) when the latter questioned the process being applied for the SIR.

The day began with Tejashwi questioning the voter verification exercise in the state. Citing reports, he alleged that the Election Commission was arbitrarily levelling voters as "outsiders" and demanded greater transparency. "Only 2% of people have proper documents. Bihar ranks among the in terms of paperwork. Who is the EC to determine citizenship?" he asked.