The Bihar Legislative Assembly today witnessed an unseemly fight between two women MLAs of rival JD(U) and BJP leaving everybody befuddled. The fight broke out between Annu Shukla of ruling Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party's Bhagirathi Devi during the Zero Hour.
Devi, third term MLA from Ramnagar (SC) got angry with Shukla, MLA from Lalganj in Vaishali district, for pointing her hand towards the former while she was raising the issue of non-payment of wage under MGNREGA scheme. The BJP Legislator took objection to Shukla's gesture and told her "haath is taraf kar lenge (I will bring your hand this side)."
This infuriated Shukla, who yelled at Devi in English "I will not accept this" and rushed into the well shouting at her. Devi also got agitated and tried to move towards Shukla in the well but Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav stopped her and asked her to be seated.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who made a suo motu statement on payment of compensation to farmers who have suffered due to hailstorm in March, had left Assembly just minutes before the fight broke out. He was in his Assembly chamber and inquired from colleagues as to what happened.
Taken by surprise at the duel, Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary tried to pacify the agitated women but to no avail. Later, he adjourned the house till 2 PM. The quarrel continued even after the House was adjourned.
While Shukla was walking towards the Speaker's chamber, Devi stopped her and asked why she was behaving like that. Shukla after showing an unkind gesture went to the Speaker's chamber to register her complaint. Devi followed her to the Speaker's chamber but was stopped by his staff requesting her to enter only after Shukla leaves.
Devi told reporters she would urge the Speaker to discipline Shukla or she would drag her to court.
