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Opposition protests over Bihar mar President's address

Imposition of President's rule in Bihar marred the solemnity of the otherwise dignified opening of the Budget session of Parliament, with Opposition members raising slogans or shouts of 'shame shame' even as President K R Narayanan was on his legs.

Perhaps for the first time in several years, the start of the President's address was disrupted, with Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Laloo Prasad Yadav voicing their anguish about the imposition of President's rule. Later, towards the end of his speech, when there were references to central rule in Goa and Bihar, members in the Opposition were heard shouting 'shame shame' amid thumping of desks by other members.

Mulayam Singh, in his remarks at the beginning, said the President should throw away his prepared text and speak his mind freely on the way the Constitution had been flouted to impose President's rule in Bihar. He pleaded that the nation did not want these prepared papers but to know what Narayanan felt. He described the imposition as a "murder of democracy".

Laloo Yadav echoed similar views, though most of what was said was not audible as there are no microphones near the seats where the members are seated, but he wanted the President to insert the words 'murder of democracy' in his address.

Even as the members were speaking, the President began his address, ignoring the disturbances. The members resumed their seats thereafter.

Earlier, the RLM members of both houses sat on dharna for about two hours in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the premises of Parliament House).

UNI

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