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Bedlam in Bihar assembly over Jehanabad massacre

Bedlam marked the proceedings of the Bihar assembly forcing its adjournment for the second time today following tumultuous scenes over last night's massacre of 35 people at Senari village in the Naxalite-dominated Jehanabad district.

The house witnessed uproarious scenes immediately after it reassembled following a 30-minute adjournment after the start of the session when leader of the opposition Sushil Kumar Modi demanded immediate visit of Chief Minister Rabri Devi to the site of the carnage. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader also asked her to make a statement during the day itself.

Congress leader in the house Ramashray Prasad Singh demanded Rabri's resignation.

The Congress and BJP members also traded charges over the installation of the RJD government and the support extended to it by some parties.

BJP members shouted slogans against the government and its supporters, while the Left parties, including the Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India-Marxist, demanded action against the Jehanabad district magistrate and the superintendent of police and a probe into the alleged nexus between the BJP and the Ranvir Sena.

Speaker Deo Narayan Yadav announced that the adjournment motion, moved by the opposition parties, had been accepted and the matter would be discussed in the house later in the evening.

Meanwhile, the Bihar Congress unit today demanded Rabri's resignation for its 'failure' to maintain law and order in the state.

Making a statement in the state assembly, Singh said the government should resign immediately. He added that there was no point in having a discussion on the adjournment motion.

Acting Bihar Governor, Justice B M Lal today expressed sorrow over the massacre.

Describing the incident as 'serious' and 'a matter of concern,' he said the administration had been directed to improve the law and order situation and to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

UNI

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