The Bihar Legislative Assembly session begins
Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, February 19
The Budget session of the Bihar legislative Assembly began Friday morning with opposition members hitting the headlines by pedalling bicycles to the Vidhan Sabha in protest against the price hike.
The session that would conclude on March 24 started with the customary address of the Governor, Phagu Chauhan to the joint session of Bihar legislative assembly and the council. Governor complimented the Nitish Kumar led government for its agenda of development with justice. He said the NDA government in Bihar was working on zero tolerance against corruption, crime and communalism.
Governor praised the state government for performing well in controlling COVID-19 pandemic and assured every citizen of Bihar would get free vaccination. Chauhan said the state government would take measures to attract investment in industries.
On the opening day of the budget session, opposition members registered their protests against rising prices of petroleum products and cooking gas. Two opposition members Mukesh Raushan of RJD and Akhtarul Islam Shahin of AIMIM reached the legislature complex on their cycles as they claimed petrol price was out of their reach.
Senior Congress member Shakil Ahmad Khan was seen entering the legislature complex with an earthen oven and wood logs to register his protest against rising prices of LPG. Another Congress MLA Ms Pratima Kumari was carrying the traditional firewood stove on her shoulders and claimed the Ujjawala scheme to provide LPG cylinders has failed.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar later said he would reintroduce the weekly meeting with the common man during his proposed Janata Darbar on every Monday after all citizens of the state were vaccinated against COVID-19. Janata Darbar would be held in the Sambad complex close to the CM residence.
Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad, who presented the economic survey, claimed 10.25 per cent GDP growth in the state in 2020-21. Annual budget for the financial year 2021-22 would be presented on February 22