Congress minister’s comment on Modi rocks Bihar Houses
PATNA: Both Houses of Bihar Legislature on Wednesday witnessed commotion and adjournments over a minister asking a crowd to hit with shoes the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “failing to end” their demonetisation woes.
The BJP members staged protest demanding sacking of Congress minister Abdul Jalil Mastan, who was present in the Assembly, and registration of a sedition case against him for the act.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the incident while Congress and Mastan himself expressed regret. However, failed to pacify the BJP whose members forced the adjournment of both the Houses till 2pm amid noisy scenes. Asked about his reaction to the minister’s utterances, the chief minister told reporters, “It is wrong to make uncharitable comments.”
The controversy erupted following the telecast of a video by a TV channel purportedly showing a February 22 incident when a crowd was protesting against demonetisation at Amour, Mastan’s constituency in Purnea district.
In the video, Mastan, the Excise and Prohibition Minister, was heard telling the crowd the prime minister had said that if he fails to end people’s woes within 50 days of demonetisation, he was prepared to face any punishment.
The video then shows Mas- tan asking people to hit the PM’s photograph with shoes, following which a few in the crowd then hit Modi’s photograph, kept on a chair on the stage.
As the House sat for the day, Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar raised the issue and demanded immediate sacking of Mastan. He sought registration of a sedition case against him for his “uncharitable comments” against the PM.
The BJP MLAs rushed to the well and shouted slogans, while a few of them overturned the official reporters’ table. Led by Sushil Kumar Modi, BJP members forced adjournment of the Legislative Council, too. Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary adjourned the House first till 12pm.