Patna

On the third day of the Bihar Legislative Assembly’s winter session, chaos erupted as opposition MLAs demanded a debate on the Waqf Board Amendment Bill during the Question Hour. However, Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav denied the request, explaining that the bill is a matter for the Government of India and not under the state legislature’s jurisdiction.

The opposition, unhappy with the Speaker’s decision, accused the state government of being dictatorial and continued to disrupt proceedings. Despite calls for calm, the protests intensified, leading the Speaker to adjourn the House until after lunch.

The demand for a debate on the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, which aims to regulate Waqf property management, highlights the opposition’s desire to address national issues with local significance in the state assembly. The government, however, focused on state-related priorities, following procedural rules.

Before the session, Grand Alliance MLAs, led by RJD Chief Whip Akhtarul Islam Sahin, protested outside the Assembly, carrying banners and posters. Sahin urged the central government to withdraw the bill and called on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to oppose it. In contrast, BJP MLA Haribhushan Thakur dismissed the protests, claiming the Waqf Board facilitates land jihad and expressed support for the bill in Parliament.