Special status denial: Opposition teases JD(U) govt with jhunjhuna, toys in Bihar assembly

PATNA: Baby rattles (jhunjhunas) and toys rang out loud in a playschool-like Bihar assembly Tuesday as opposition INDIA bloc protested Centre's refusal the previous day to grant the state its long-standing special status demand. The demonstrations, which saw Centre being accused of neglecting the state and the Budget being labelled a damp squib for its people, led to the proceedings being adjourned twice.Ironically, Centre has cited an inter-ministerial group report of UPA govt in 2012 to turn down the special status demand.
RJD, Congress and Left MLAs arrived carrying placards with slogans like "shame on anti-Bihar BJP" to embarrass the Nitish Kumar-led NDA govt. Despite Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav's repeated requests for order, the slogan-shouting raged on, forcing him to adjourn the House at 11.15am until noon. When the House reconvened, the uproarious scenes continued as opposition MLAs trooped into the well and tried to overturn tables. They demanded an immediate discussion, which the Speaker denied, leading to another adjournment until 2pm.
Lending a touch of levity to the din, some opposition members held jhunjhunas. "The Union Budget is anti-people. It has nothing to offer for a poor state like Bihar. Bihar has only got jhunjhuna," RJD's Bhai Birendra said, playing a rattle. Congress legislature party leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan chimed in with one of the toys to express frustration. "Bihar got nothing but jhunjhuna. So, we are playing jhunjhuna," Khan said.
CM Nitish's JDU has been demanding special status since first taking office in 2005. Ahead of the 2014 LS polls, it held statewide rallies on the issue. Even at Centre's all-party meeting Sunday, JDU's working president Sanjay Kumar Jha raised the matter. JDU, with 12 LS MPs, is a crucial ally of NDA at the Centre.