The violence during a Mangalwari procession in Hazaribagh on Mahashivratri was vehemently raised in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. As soon as the House proceedings began on Wednesday, BJP MLAs staged a protest demanding an impartial investigation.
Hazaribagh: The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly witnessed intense uproar on Wednesday over the Hazaribagh incident. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bly raised the issue and leveled serious allegations against the government. BJP MLAs questioned why such violent incidents occur only during Hindu festivals.
Hazaribagh Issue Echoes in the Assembly
As soon as the House proceedings began, BJP MLA from Hazaribagh, Pradeep Prasad, forcefully raised the matter. Subsequently, the Leader of the Opposition, Babulal Marandi, along with other MLAs, reached the well of the House and began shouting slogans against the government. Marandi questioned why violence erupts during Hindu festivals when Eid and Muharram pass peacefully. He also alleged that the administration is providing protection to the criminals.
The Leader of the Opposition stated that with current technological advancements, the use of drones, CCTV cameras, and improved lighting could have identified the rioters. He alleged that the violence was pre-planned, and the lights were intentionally switched off to facilitate stone-pelting. He demanded an impartial investigation into the matter from the government.
Government's Response
Amidst the opposition's protest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radhakrishna Kishore stated that the government is taking the incident seriously. He informed the House that the Hazaribagh police have submitted their report to the ADG, mentioning the playing of controversial songs as a contributing factor to the incident. The Minister informed the House that five individuals from each of the two involved parties have been named, while FIRs have been registered against 200 unknown individuals from each side, and investigations are ongoing.
He stated that the administration has deployed additional security forces and increased patrolling in the area to prevent any untoward incidents. The government also assured that the administration will maintain strict surveillance to prevent future occurrences and will pre-deploy additional forces in sensitive areas as needed. However, the opposition remained dissatisfied with the government's response and continued to demand the formation of a special committee to oversee the investigation.
