In view of the COVID-19 threat , the Bihar budget session was cut short on Monday. Opposition leaders, however, said they wished the session continued.
“The ongoing budget session of the Assembly has been cut short and there will be no sittings of the House after Monday. Debates scheduled for the remaining budgetary demands for various departments will be guillotined,” said Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.
He said the decision was taken at a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the House chaired by him. Mr. Chaudhary, later, adjourned the proceedings of the House till 2 p.m.
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The month-long session was scheduled to last till March 31.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav told journalists that the House should have continued its session. “What message will it send to the common people? When legislators are not safe [from COVID-19] what will happen to them, they will wonder… but, we have to go with the decision of the Speaker.”
Other Opposition leaders slammed the State government for inadequate medical assistance and laxity in spreading awareness about the infection. “The condition in government hospitals should improve and people in districts must be properly informed about the disease and its prevention,” said Opposition RJD and Congress MLAs.
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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appealed to people not to panic. He expressed displeasure at the distribution of masks among employees of the Assembly and tersely told them not to create fear. Later, he spoke to the Speaker and Health Minister Mangal Pandey.
The Bihar government has shut all schools, colleges, coaching institutes and cinema halls till March 31 in view of the threat. Lower-level government officials have been asked to come to the office on alternate days to avoid crowd in offices. The Patna High Court has said that only urgent cases will be heard till March 31.