Tejashwi Yadav announces Bihar bandh on Friday to protest police action in state assembly

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday gave a call for 'Bihar Bandh' on March 26 in protest against forceful eviction of opposition MLAs from the assembly when they were agitating against the police bill in the state.

The RJD leader said that the bandh would also focus on the unemployment crisis and farmers issue which has now exceeded to over four months.The bandh has also been supported by Congress party and other opposition parties, including Left parties- CPI-ML, CPI(M) and CPI, in the state."We have given a call for Bihar bandh tomorrow in the state. Though an all-India call has already been given by the farmers' bodies for March 26. We witnessed a black day on March 23, the day when the state government murdered democracy," Tejashwi said, as reported by PTI."Our MLAs were beaten up by police while holding dharna peacefully in front of the Speaker's chamber," Yadav told reporters. The incident was severely criticised by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who called the act 'unparliamentary' behavior of the opposition MLAs and while emphasizing on the need for the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, had said had they debated the legislation the government could have cleared their doubts point-by-point, PTI reported.Tejashwi Yadav retorted to this by saying, "Kumar is in the last stage of his (political) career. The post (of CM) is not meant permanently for anybody."He, however, also warned officials allegedly working at the behest of their political masters and said that they Should know that no one knows as to wh the government will collapse."Bihar police have become JD(U) police," Yadav asserted. "The state government will have to withdraw the 'black legislation' or at least it will have to bring certain amendments to the bill which has been passed forcibly," he said.The bill has already been passed by both houses of the state legislature.In reply to a query that action may be taken against them (RJD members) for their misconduct in the assembly on March 23, he said "We are not afraid of any action. We are not like BJP workers who get frightened by such intimidation."Highlighting past precedents of gheroe of speaker's chamber, Yadav said "In 1974, socialists had occupied the speaker's chair and conducted the proceedings during Congress regime but police force was not called inside the assembly."Not only this, Karpoori Thakur as CM had referred a bill to the select committee after stiff protest from opposition in 1978," Tejashwi said, reminding Kumar of the past happenings.