RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 7: The Opposition party legislators attempted to bring a privilege motion in the House alleging the state government attempted to prevent them from coming to the house to participate in the assembly proceedings by putting barricading on their way.
The issue was first raised by Ajsu party legislator Sudesh Mahto during the question hour by asking the reason behind the deployment of a heavy number of police personnel. He said the situation was so tense that he had to use a helmet while coming to the house.
On which speaker Rabindranath Mahto said he will find out the reason. Hearing this reply, BJP legislator Bhanu Pratap Shahi expressed his dissatisfaction saying police stopped him at least at 10 places and asked him to show his identity card.
“Converting the entire Ranchi into jail to prevent someone from staging a demonstration is a violation of fundamental rights of common people,” Shahi said.
Though Congress legislator Irfan Ansari termed the information misleading saying he did not have any problem in coming to the house but other legislators supported Mahto and Shahi.
“When I was coming from Jamshedpur my vehicle was stopped. During my morning walk, it was informed to me that section 144 of CrPC had been imposed in the city. The Government should clarify the situation,” independent legislator Saryu Roy said, supporting Mahto and Shahi.
On which parliamentary affairs minister Alamgir Alam stood up and said police have been deployed to maintain law and order as it was coming into the knowledge of the government that an attempt will be made to lay siege to the assembly.
Following the reply of Alam, BJP legislator Amit Mandal said he was stopped at four places and thus was obstructed to carry out his responsibility in the assembly and this is the matter of parliamentary privilege.
On which the speaker asked Mandal why he did not give the matter in writing to bring a privilege motion giving written information is necessary.
On which Mandal’s party colleague Amar Bouri asked the speaker to accept the same on verbal information saying he was also stopped at Jail More. But the speaker did not allow it.
A privileged motion is a motion that is granted precedence over ordinary business because it concerns matters of great importance or urgency. Such motions are not debatable, although, in case of questions of privilege, the chair may feel the need to elicit relevant facts from members.
