Budget session ends on stormy note

PATNA: Both the Houses of state legislature were adjourned sine die on Wednesday after the seven-day budget session, which ended with opposition RJD members stalling the proceedings over demand for chief minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation in the wake of controversy over Muzaffarpur sex scandal.

As the House assembled, RJD MLAs led by Bhai Birendra demanded CM’s reply to the questions raised by leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in connection with the Muzaffarpur POCSO court reference last week.

The POCSO court had forwarded to CBI an application filed by one of the accused in the scandal, seeking investigation into the role of the chief minister and a number of top bureaucrats in the release of funds to the shelter home from 2013 to 2018.

The Speaker adjourned the House till 2pm.

Meanwhile, nine bills were passed during the budget session, including for 10% quota to economically weaker sections in the unreserved category in government jobs and admissions and Bihar Niji Vidyalaya (Shulk Vinimiyan) Bill, 2019 to monitor and regularize annual hike by private schools in the state.

The Houses also passed the resolutions urging the Centre to conduct 2021 census on caste basis and restore 200-point roster system earlier implemented by the University Grants Commission.

In the Upper House, acting chairperson Haroon Rashid said 413 questions were received by the council secretariat, out of which 390 were accepted. Altogether 157 questions were replied given in the council during the session.

Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary informed the lower House that out of 1,192 questions received by the assembly secretariat, 971 were accepted for reply. Out of the accepted questions, 10 were short noticed, 850 were starred and 111 were un-starred. The government replied 30 questions while 523 answers were put online.