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Vananchal bill introduced in Lok Sabha amid uproar

The Bihar State Reorganisation Bill, 1998, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the winter session today amid uproarious scenes and vociferous protests by members of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (National Democratic Front) and the Left parties.

Soon after Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani introduced the bill, Speaker G M C Balayogi adjourned the house for an hour as protesting MPs rushed to the well of the house and squatted there to register their protest.

In the morning session, in a repeat of yesterday's incidents, members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party, the two constituents of the RLM, and the lone member from the Bodoland groups, S K Bwiswmuthiary, forced two adjournments in a bid to block the bill.

Within minutes of the house assembling in the morning, slogan shouting in the well by RLM members and dancing by independent member Bwiswmuthiary forced an adjournment till 1215 hours IST.

Balayogi's appeal for allowing the question hour and threat of disciplinary action against erring members did not cut much ice.

While the RLM members were against the Vananchal bill, Bwiswmuthiary wanted a separate Bodoland.

When the house reassembled at 1215 hours, some 20 members marched into the well and began shouting slogans on the Vananchal and Bodoland issues, ignoring repeated pleas by Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed, who was in the chair. Sayeed said he would listen to the members if they went back to their seats. He also directed that nothing being said by them would go on record.

But when his entreaties fell on deaf ears, he abruptly adjourned the House and left for his chamber, saying the house would re-assemble at 1400 hours.

When the house assembled once again at 1400 hours, the RLM members again trooped into the well, shouting slogans and accusing the government of adopting a dictatorial attitude to push through the bill bifurcating Bihar for "political ends".

But ignoring them, Speaker Balayogi asked the treasury benches to proceed with the business agenda. Advani thereafter moved the bill. Nothing was audible in the din and members realised that the bill had been introduced only when the treasury benches began thumping the desks and congratulating one another.

UNI

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