Nitish objects to Opposition's 'frequent walkout' from House

Patna: Taking umbrage over Opposition's "frequent walkout" from the House ahead of the government's reply on financial agenda and not pressing cut motion, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday urged the Speaker to declare the motion moved by them as infructuous.

"The opposition members resort to walkout from the House ahead of the government's reply on financial agenda and end up not pressing the cut motion they move upon introduction of budgetary demands by respective departments...it is not a good thing," he said drawing Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary's attention towards empty opposition benches

"Why should not the cut motion be rejected by the Houseand declared infructuous if the opposition members are not present to press with it," Kumar asked.

"The Chair should consider declaring the cut motion not pressed by the opposition members as infructuous," the Chief Minister said and urged the Speaker to forward his suggestion to the rules committee of the House for consideration.

Chaudhary agreed to forward the latter's suggestions to the rules committee.

The Chief Minister's interjection came after the Speaker called out BJP member Vijay Kumar Sinha to press ahead with his cut motion on the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries department's budgetary demand of Rs 544.19 crore for 2016-17. But Sinha was found absent from the house as the BJP-led Opposition staged a walkout as soon as the department's minister Awadesh Kumar Singh stood up to reply to the debate.

The Animal Husbandry and Fisheries department's budgetary demand was later passed by voice vote. Singh said Bihar State Milk Co-Operative Federation Ltd (COMFED) has proposed to issue licenses to 1,966 liquor shops to sell dairy products in place of country-made liquor.

As many as 306 liquor shops have entered into oral agreement with the COMFED to sell dairy products at their outlets from April one next in place of liquor, he said.

The Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister announced a proposal to set up a veterinary university in the Patna Veterinary College campus at Sheikhpura here. He also announced 24-hour medical services for cattle.