War of Words as Nitish Kumar Slams Speaker Sinha for ‘Violating’ Constitution

Patna: Much to the embarrassment of the National Democratic Alliance government in Bihar, an unusual angry exchange of words erupted between chief minister Nitish Kumar and Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha inside the Assembly over “violating” the Constitution and the running of the House.

Nearly an hour into the ongoing Budget Session, Kumar expressed his unhappiness over the way the Lakhisarai incident, in which two persons were arrested on charges of violating the COVID-19 protocol during the Saraswati Puja celebrations last month, was raised repeatedly by Sinha despite the matter being referred to the privilege committee and a probe under way.

Kumar was visibly annoyed when Sinha allowed Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Sanjay Sarawgi to raise the issue and subsequently asked Cabinet minister Bijendra Yadav to appraise the House after a couple of days of the action taken regarding the incident.

Questioning Sinha, a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Lakhisarai constituency, Kumar said, “The minister has been authorised to reply on behalf of the government. When he has submitted that the inquiry is under way, you ask him to come up with a fresh reply the day after tomorrow. This is against the rules. Please, look at the Constitution. It is for the government and the police to take action in such matters. The report of the investigation has to be submitted before the court.”

Questioning the Speaker’s authority further, Kumar asked, “Is the House empowered to intervene in the matter? I am serving my fourth term as chief minister. I was also a member of the Assembly once. Never have I seen such a procedural anomaly. Please, don’t run the House in this manner.”

After a video of the celebrations, where thousands had gathered, went viral, the local police arrested only two audience members but did not act against the organisers and local administrative officials present there, Sinha had claimed that two persons were innocent.

When he took up the issue with the police, Sinha alleged that DSP Ranjan Kumar and Birupur SHO Dilip Kumar Singh and Barhaiya SHO Sanjay Kumar Singh misbehaved with him. Subsequently, the three police officers were removed.

Accusing Sinha of “violating the Constitution”, Kumar said, “The House will not run like this. Who are you to direct the government to reply on the Lakhisarai issue at a later date? This is not right. Work should be done in accordance with the Constitution. The House cannot run like this. You cannot interfere in every matter.”

After Kumar’s volley of criticism, Sinha reminded him that the “intention should not be to demoralise the chair of the Speaker” and also questioned his claims of a zero-tolerance policy on crime, and development with social justice. “What happened to your claims of zero-tolerance towards crime, and development with social justice? Now, I want that the CM should get this matter investigated and only apprise the House regarding the development,” he said.

Opposition MLAs of Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and the Left said that the heated exchange of words between Kumar and Sinha exposed the lack of coordination and the growing rift within NDA.