Jharkhand Assembly witnessed a rarity when Opposition members came sympathising to a member from the ruling BJP, especially when the House has been passing through unending deadlocks for as many as last eight sessions.
The scene unfolded at the time when BJP’s chief whip Radha Krishna Kishore, referring to threats reportedly being given to his counterpart from Rajmahal constituency Anant Ojha over phone, demanded security from the Government. The opportunity was promptly seized by leader of the Opposition Hemant Soren and others on his flank who supported the demand.
Ojha, in his complaint, said that he was receiving frightening calls with life threats for his reported statements and advocating against illegal infiltrators coming to Sahibganj and adjoining areas from neighbouring Bangladesh. “I am receiving such calls from some time. I am being abused and threatened to be killed if I do not keep mum on the illegal immigration issue rampant in the region,” said the MlA.
Speaker Dinesh Oraon said that Chief Minister Raghubar
Das had taken note of it and would look into the matter. Soren, though sarcastically, urging the Government to provide adequate security to the MlA, posed a question to the Government that if a member from the ruling dispensation cannot feel secure then what would be the fate of the Opposition leaders.
However, the bonhomie could not last long and the JMM, Congress and JVM members citing utterances from CP Singh a day before terming them members of ‘Afzal gang’ and persisting with their old demand to recall the amendments done in the land Acquisition Act, 2013 resorted to sloganeering causing din.
JVM’s Pradeep Yadav demanded a CBI probe into the alleged horse trading involving six of his party’s legislators. To this, Minister CP Singh challenged him to ascertain the authenticity of the letter released in public by the party and threatened him with the Privilege Motion failing to that. He also heard saying that JVM chief Babulal Marandi would go to jail for his mischief. The comment restarted commotion and when the members continued with their protest the Speaker adjourned the House two times before the lunch break.
Hemant Soren later speaking to media persons alleged the State Government for crossing its jurisdiction and limits to support corporates. “The land Acquisition Act is such an Act which even the Prime Minister cannot alter with. But the Chief Minister here with the power of majority has managed to do this and also misled the office of the President. Our protest is in the interest of the people of the State which would continue at any cost,” said Soren.
The Chief Minister, on his part, blamed the Opposition for hijacking the Assembly and democratic principles and attacked the Congress for trying to formulate an unholy alliance countrywide. “The people had shown the Congress its right place in 2014 and several Assembly elections in the State. This is going to happen again. Dynastic politics cannot survive in this country and the State,” said the CM in a veiled reference to the JMM and its leadership.
He also tabled CAG reports on the floor of the House. Nine other Bills were also passed that included Advocates' Welfare Fund, land acquisition for water, gas and drainage pipelines, Bills for setting up Capital University and amending the Usha Martin University and Sai Nath University Acts. Also, the Bills for industrial dispute and contract labourers were passed despite the members of JMM and JVM opposing some of the provisions.