File image of Tejashwi Yadav. PTI

Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday gave a call for “Bihar Bandh” on 26 March in protest against forceful eviction of opposition MLAs from the Assembly when they were agitating against theBihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021 on Tuesday.

Yadav further said that the bandh would include matters concerning unemployment and farmers issue on which a call for all India bandh on Friday has been given by the farmers bodies.

The RJD leader claimed that the bandh has support of Congress and other opposition parties that included left parties — CPI-ML, CPM, and CPI.

“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 26 March. We witnessed a black day on 23 March, the day when the state government murdered the democracy,” Tejashwi said.

“Our MLAs were beaten up by police while holding dharna peacefully in front of the Speakers chamber,” Leader of Opposition in the Assembly told reporters.

The legislative assembly had witnessed an unprecedented chaos when the grand alliance legislators had gheroed the speaker’s chamber literally taking him hostage and their women members had prevented speaker from taking his seat in the house later.

Videos of the unruly scenes on Tuesday showed Opposition members laying seige of speaker’s chamber and some of them being bodily evicted by the police and marshals later.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had severely criticised the “unparliamentary” behaviour of the opposition MLAs and while emphasising 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.

Hitting out at the chief minister, the RJD leader said, “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 when the government will collapse.

“Bihar police have become JD(U) police,” he said while asserting that he is not afraid of them.

“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 23 March, 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 speakers chair and conducted the proceedings during Congress regime but police force was not called inside the assembly.

“Not only this, Karpoori Thakur as chief minister had referred a bill to select committee after stiff protest from Opposition in 1978,” Tejashwi said reminding Kumar of the past happenings.