6 bills passed in House amid ruckus over SIR

The Bihar Vidhan Sabha on witnessed another day of turmoil over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll exercise in the state.

- Arun Kumar

The Opposition raised it vehemently and later staged a walkout, while the government still managed to hurriedly go through the important legislative business, which included passage of four new and two amendment bills, without any debate.

With the Opposition, including the RJD, Congress and the Left parties, all fired up, the surcharged atmosphere that led to adjournment in the first half continued in the second also, as the slogan-shouting legislators rushed into the House Well carrying placards and posters to register their protest despite Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav's repeated attempts to restore order.

The Speaker, however, continued with the legislative business and as soon as Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha tabled the first Bihar Agriculture University (amendment) Bill, the Opposition, wearing black for the second day in protest, walked out. The tabling of the bills nevertheless continued with empty Opposition benches and one after another six bills were passed by voice vote, with nobody from the Opposition present to move amendments.

Other legislative business was also taken up with empty Opposition benches. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav did not turn up in the House in the second half after his spat with chief minister Nitish Kumar in the first half, which was adjourned till 2 pm after turmoil.

Six bills passed