Special session of Bihar assembly adjourned amidst chaos
The Bihar legislative assembly, which began a three-day special session today to discuss the Union government's bill to form Vananchal state, was adjourned without a debate amidst chaos and shouting.
No sooner had the house assembled in the morning than members of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal, which is opposing the division of Bihar, began shouting and screaming at the supporters of Vananchal. The latter returned the compliment.
Nothing could be heard in the din. The speaker then adjourned the house for the day.
As the members dispersed, the shouting match spilled on to the streets of Patna. Thankfully, there was no violence.
Later in the day, Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari flew to New Delhi, fuelling speculation that the Rabri Devi government was closer to dismissal than ever. This was corroborated by Bharatiya Janata Party vice-president Krishan Lal Sharma who said the Bihar government would fall "any moment" and that it would be difficult for RJD president and Rabri Devi's husband Laloo Prasad Yadav to save it. Bhandari himself was a vice-president of the BJP before he was appointed governor of Bihar.
But Laloo Yadav, a former chief minister of Bihar, was unperturbed. "We are not bothered about (Article) 356 (which empowers a governor to dismiss the state government). We will get cut into pieces, but we will not let Bihar be divided," a determined Laloo Yadav thundered at a media conference.
Talking to the media in New Delhi, BJP vice-president Krishan Lal Sharma said Laloo Yadav himself was responsible for endangering his wife's government with his utterances and actions. Sharma also ridiculed Laloo Yadav's threat to bring down the coalition government led by the BJP at the Centre.
The Congress, meanwhile, reserved comment on the day's events. An informal meeting of the Congress Working Committee in New Delhi took stock of the political situation in Bihar and decided to wait until September 21, when the state assembly is expected to have a trial of strength on the matter.
Party spokesman Ajit Jogi later told the media that the party's stand on Jharkhand was clear, but refused to commit himself on the issue of support to Rabri Devi, saying there were still three days for a decision.
Sources said the Congress would send an observer to Patna to assess the situation and chalk out the future strategy. Madhavrao Scindia, party general secretary, is expected to name the observer.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Peoples Party chief Vinod Bhagat today called upon the people of the 18 districts of south Bihar to launch a united offensive against the "anti-Jharkhand stance" of the state government.
Bhagat said in Ranchi that the government, by announcing its opposition to the Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 1998, and dissolving the Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council interim committee, had proved that it was confined only to the northern and central parts of the state.
He appealed to intellectuals, professionals, and employees in the public and private sectors in the region to come forward in support of the long-standing demand for a separate state.
Bhagat, who was yesterday appointed deputy convener of the All-Party Joint Co-ordination Committee, called upon the people of the region to ensure the success of the "Jharkhand bandh" on September 21. The general strike, called by the JPP-All-Jharkhand Students' Union combine, has been supported by almost all political parties -- bar the RJD, naturally.
He said it was also decided at the all-party meeting convened yesterday to intensify the struggle for a separate state.
Meanwhile, JPP senior leader Devsharan Bhagat called upon all legislators from the Jharkhand region to relinquish membership of the Bihar assembly in protest against the ruling party's stance.
He also called upon RJD legislators and ministers elected to the assembly from the 18 districts of Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana to resign and join the APJCC to revive the movement for a separate state.
The JPP also demanded the immediate dismissal of the Rabri Devi government in Bihar for its alleged attempts to create a civil-war-like situation in the state.
Bhagat accused Laloo Yadav of trying to arouse passions and divide the people along regional lines.
UNI
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