Budget Session: BJP creates uproar over comments of Congress MLA Irfan Ansari

Ranchi: On the fifth day of the ongoing budget session of the Jharkhand assembly the members of the BJP created a furor over the comments of Congress MLA Irfan Ansari following which the house was adjourned till lunch break.

As soon as the house assembled for the day the BJP MLAs in a repeat of action for the last four days immediately started slogan shouting in support of their demands including demanding chair of leader of opposition for Babulal Marandi and also called for action against Congress party's Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari for making use of foul language against the legislators of the opposition.

Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto said that if the MLAs wanted to make a mockery of the Assembly then they should feel free to do so. He said that the BJP was the second-largest party in the assembly and also the main opposition party inside the house, therefore, it should maintain the decorum and it is not like that they can come with 'Dhol and Manjera' and protest inside the house. He asked the MLAs as if they have also decided that they would not allow the house to function for the next three years like it happened in the previous tenure than they should tell the house.

On Wednesday Irfan Ansari who is known for his controversial statements had accused the MLAs of the opposition of 'barking like dogs' inside the house while interacting with media outside the house.

The Speaker urged the MLAs not to waste their time on unnecessary talks and pointed that if comments have been made outside the house than there was no point discussing the issue inside and asked the MLAs to return back to their seats and allow the question hour to commence.

Mandar MLA Bandhu Bandhu Tirkey and Poriyahaat MLA Pradeep Yadav said that it was not correct on part of the BJP MLAs to bring talks which have taken place outside the house and disturb the proceedings following which once again the BJP MLAs stormed into the well of the house.

Speaker Ravindranath Mahto tried to restore order in the house and said that the issue raised by the MLAs has come into the proceedings of the house and assured to look into the issue and urged them to allow the house to function.

He also asked them to listen to Irfan Ansari who wanted to clarify the issue and settle the matter if the MLA seeks an apology for his comments. The Speaker said that whether it was MLA of the ruling side or those in opposition no one has the right to disrespect another MLA.

Senior BJP MLA Neelkanth Singh Munda joining the issue said that comments of Irfan Ansari were not appropriate and demanded that either his membership of the house should be cancelled or he suspended from the house for use of foul language.

He said that words used by him was disrespectful towards the 3.25 crore people of Jharkhand as he and other MLAs have been also elected by the people. Munda pointed that on a previous occasion also Irfan Ansari had made inappropriate comments but despite the order of the Speaker he had not apologised therefore strict action should be taken against him orelse his morale will further increase.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Aalamgir Aalam asked the MLAs who were protesting inside the well of the house to allow Irfan Ansari speak over the issue and clarify his stand which was not accepted by the MLAs who were adamant that action should be taken against Irfan Ansari.

Bhanu Pratap Shahi of the BJP said they will not relent unless Irfan Ansari is suspended from the house for his comments. In the meantime Speaker asked Pradeep Yadav to ask his question over which Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon stood up to reply however such was the noise inside the house that his reply went unheard.

Pradeep Yadav said that it was a matter of probe as to under what circumstances Irfan Ansari had said those words however it was not correct for BJP to disturb the house in such an undemocratic way.

The repeated attempts of the Speaker failed to bring the house into order after which at 11.30 am he adjourned the house till lunch break.