PATNA: The issue of Surya Namaskar being organized in schools across Bihar rocked the joint session of the state legislature on Monday during the governor's address. Even as governor Devanand Konwar was midway through his address, an RJD member raised the issue. Immediately, the BJP members got up in rage and came almost on the verge of clash with RJD members.
What angered the saffron party members, including some ministers, was a remark by the RJD's Akhtarul Iman. As the governor referred to minority welfare schemes in his address, Iman stood up to lodge protest over the 'Surya Namaskar' scheme in schools, saying it was being done at the behest of RSS.
Incensed over his remark, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey and animal and fishery resources minister Giriraj Singh got up and lashed out at Iman condemning his remarks, Several BJP legislators also trooped into the well of the House and menacingly moved towards the RJD benches. Nityanand Rai of the BJP was among the more vocal members shouting at those opposing the Surya Namaskar.
Jawahar Prasad and others started raising slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Vande Matram' and 'Har Har Mahadeo'. The JD-U members sat quietly and appeared uncomfortable, feeling that the BJP members' outburst would rob them the opportunity to capitalize on governor bashing by Jyoti of Congress.
Some senior BJP leaders rushed to the well of the House to pacify their members and bring them back to their seats. "We will enter the assembly everyday with 'Surya Namaskar' unless the RJD member takes back his remarks," Rai was heard shouting. The fracas continued for over 10 minutes disrupting the governor's address.
The RJD and Congress members, who did not take part in the acrimonious exchanges, were later seen telling JD-U legislators that the BJP showed its strength and demoralized its ally. "Jyoti's show was excellent but the BJP people diverted the attention," commented one JD-U minister. "Surya Namaskar issue only communalized the legislative atmosphere," quipped another JD-U MLA.
Some minority bodies had earlier voiced serious reservation over the education department's notification on making 'Surya Namaskar' compulsory in the government schools to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand. The government later issued another notification making it optional. "There should be no objection to it," said health minister Choubey and added that anybody can salute the sun revering it as a god or just an object.
Uproar in legislature over 'Surya Namaskar'
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Uproar in legislature over 'Surya Namaskar'
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Uproar in legislature over 'Surya Namaskar'
