‘Attack on Democracy’ in Bihar Assembly: FIR Against Yadav, Others

On Tuesday, visuals of opposition MLAs being manhandled and evicted from the assembly emerged.

Rahul Gandhi (L) and Tejashwi Yadav. Image used for representational purpose.

(Photo: Arnica Kala/The Quint)

In the wake of unprecedented chaos transpiring in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday, FIRs were registered against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav as well as other unnamed party workers on Wednesday, 24 March, after they voiced their protest against the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021 in the Vidhan Sabha.

Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition parties, including the RJD, Indian National Congress and Aam Aadmi Party among others issued a joint statement by condemning the attack on the MLAs, and expressing their disapproval of the Special Armed Police Bill.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted that “those who defy democracy have no right to be called government,” and added that the events in Vidhan Sabha made it evident that the chief minister is under the influence of BJP-RSS.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav tweeted a video saying, “The RJD MLA was beaten up by plain-clothed goons of the Gunda government in the temple of democracy.”

On Tuesday, opposition MLAs, including Tejashwi Yadav and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav, were detained. Visuals of several others, who were agitating against the bill inside the assembly, being thrashed and evicted by the police and other administrative officials also emerged.

What the Joint Statement Says

The joint statement called the bill “draconian” and “unconstitutional”. It read that it “effectively transforms the police force into an armed militia to harass, suppress and crack down on academics, activists, journalists, political opposition and all those who dare to speak truth to power”.

It went on to call its introduction an “insidious conspiracy” which seeks to enforce “Police Raj” in Bihar.

On the treatment of the MLAs raising these concerns, the statement said, “Rather than addressing the people’s concerns, the MLAs were ruthlessly beaten and forcefully ejected from the assembly. In doing so, the BJP and JDU have not only sought to throttle the voices of people’s representatives, but also assaulted constitutional principles.”

Tejashwi, Lalu Slam CM Kumar

Following the commotion, former CM of Bihar Lalu Prasad Yadav on Wednesday tweeted in Hindi, “Playing in the lap of the Sangh, Nitish is a pawn and small recharge of the Sangh.”

Lalu Prasad Yadav’s tweet.Photo: Twitter

Leader of the opposition also posted videos and photos of injured MLAs and claimed that they feared that the CM will get them murdered. “Anyway, the CM is experienced in getting people killed,” his tweet read.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday had said, “I have never seen such activity in the Assembly. They (Opposition MLAs) should have participated in the debate. We would have replied to every question (regarding Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021).”

In what can be perceived as a direct response, Yadav tweeted a video with the caption, “In this session, they did not give answers to any of my questions.”

“Today, when I was speaking on the black law, they forcefully introduced the Bill and then shamelessly said that we did not take part in discussions,” he added.

In a follow-up statement on Wednesday, ANI quoted the CM as saying, “Everyone knows how the Speaker's chamber was gheraoed (surrounded) and what was done in front of his Chair in the House. Today, it’s being said that the police was called there. It’s the Speaker’s prerogative to take any help to control the situation.”

As per PTI, police personnel in riot gear had also reached the premises on Tuesday and evicted many MLAs who were ‘stubborn in their refusal to let the Speaker come out of his chamber’.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)