The 10th session of the 16th Bihar Assembly began on 20 July 2018. Just before the beginning of the session mass anger was prevalent in the streets of Bihar against the incident of the repeated rapes of girls in the Muzaffarpur Girls Shelter Home. On 20 July itself, CPI (ML) MLAs comrades Mahboob Alam, Satyadev Ram and Sudama Prasad raised the issue in the Assembly and displayed posters.
On 23 July before the Assembly began the three MLAs demonstrated in the Assembly premises with the following demands: declare Bihar a drought-affected State; immediate arrangements for relief and rations; start all tube-wells without delay and release water for irrigation in all canals. Anti-government slogans were raised inside the Assembly and the government’s anti-farmer policies were strongly condemned. MLA Mahboob Alam also displayed placards with these demands inside the Assembly. The Speaker refused to accept the adjournment motion. But the Opposition MLAs kept up the pressure and the afternoon of 24 July was fixed for discussion.
On 24 July the CPI(ML) MLAs raised the issue of eviction of the poor in Gardanibagh and strongly opposed the eviction in the name of Smart City without first making alternative arrangements. They demanded the settlement of the poor on 10% land in Gardanibagh. Comrade Mahboob Alam placed an adjournment motion in the Assembly and the entire Opposition stood in support. The Speaker refused to accept the adjournment motion. The entire Opposition then walked out and raised slogans in the portico. They also demanded a CBI enquiry into the Muzaffarpur Shelter Home gang rape incident. Discussion on the drought began in the Assembly at 2 pm. Com. Sudama Prasad participated in the discussion and sharply criticized teh anti-farmer actions of the government.
On 25 July the MLAs raised the issue of sand workers and fishermen and also the hiked B.Ed. fees issue. A great uproar followed the government’s response on the Muzaffarpur incident and finally the government was forced to announce a CBI enquiry. The CPI(ML) and other Opposition parties stood firm on the demand for a HC monitored and time-bound CBI enquiry. A team consisting of leaders from four Opposition parties left for Muzaffarpur to enquire into the incident.
On 26 July, the CPI(ML) MLAs demanded the resignation of Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma and arrest of her husband Chandrashekhar Verma.
Other issues which were raised by the Party MLAs through zero hour and starred questions included: Gopalganj Co-operative scam; hike in B.Ed fees; sand workers and fishermen issues; appointment of Head of Department in Physiotherapy at the Bihar College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy; MSP for maize farmers; issue of fake seeds; roads, bridges and culverts; and problems faced by Madarsa teachers.
