Bedlam in Bihar Assembly over plot to kill Paswan

Paswan and some other party leaders had a providential escape when anti-socials kept sharp-edged nails covered under dry cut stalks of wheat in a stretch of 30 metres of road near Kochas in Bhojpur, Dal member Mundrika Singh Yadav said.

Yadav said Paswan8217;s motorcade comprising about ten vehicles passed over the nails when the Dalit leader was returning to Ara from Kochas after attending a public meeting.

Tyres of several vehicles including Paswan8217;s rath, in which he was travelling, burst, he said, adding that had the motorcadebeen travelling at high speed, it could have led to a major accident.

JD members were soon joined by leaders of other Opposition parties in demanding a detailed statement from the Government on the matter, while Deputy Speaker Jagbandhu Adhikari continued to ask members not to obstruct the Question Hour.

Opposition leader in the house, Sushil Kumar Modi said the matter was 8220;extremely serious8221; and urged the Government to begin an inquiry on the matter.

Modi said it was for the third time that an abortive attempt was made to kill Paswan.

Congress Legislature party leader Ramashray Prasad Singh, CPI leader Ambika Prasad and JMM-S MLA Stephen Marandi also described the matter as 8220;serious8221; and asked the Government to submit a detailed report to the House.

Peace returned when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ramchandra Purve said the Government had taken note of the incident and would make a statement on it later on, after collecting information from the district administration.

Purve, however, tookserious exception to the JD members bringing the nails into the House, saying, 8220;It violates the conventions.8221;

8220;People have come inside the house with nails, tomorrow others will enter the house with stones, bricks, pistols or bombs,8221; Purve said, urging the Chair to ensure that the set norms were not thrown to the winds.

Modi then alleged that the minister was trying to divert the attention of the House.

8220;The incident that took place is much more important as it relates to a threat to the life of a national Dalit leader like Ram Vilas Paswan,8221; he said.

Ambika Prasad said the State Government should be duty-bound to ensure safety to the lives and property of the people and their representatives.

JD MLA and former Bihar minister Indra Singh Namdhari urged the Deputy Speaker to adjourn the House and call on Paswan to inquire about the incident.

The Question Hour was taken up after 15 minutes of the pandemonium, with Adhikari asking the State Government to come up with a detailed report on thematter in the House by today itself.