Escaped From The Zoo? Democracy in India!

NEWS REPORTS

In the civilized world, when Members of Parliament (‘MP’s) launch attacks, it tends only to be crushing words they hurl.

But in India, it appears, politicians are willing to throw more solid – and breakable – objects to make a point.

Jyoti Devithe, an MP – yes, a legislator, a law-maker – in one of India’s state parliaments, today took to pitching plant pots at the assembly building in her anger.

She was one of 67 opposition politicians suspended from the Legislative Assembly after they began demanding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s resignation for alleged financial irregularities.

Chaotic scenes began two days ago in the chamber when a member of the Bihar Legislative Council hurled a slipper at Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary.

Clashes then ensued between the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition, consisting of the Indain Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti (LJP) and various Left parties.

The protest then continued outside after 14 legislators were forcibly removed from the assembly by the marshals on Tuesday.

There, members burned an effigy of the Chief Minister, who they say is “neck-deep” in corruption following an alleged £1.5billion missing from the State Treasury.

Others began an overnight sit-in inside the assembly which they are continuing to maintain.

Yesterday, as the volatile protest continued, Mrs. Devithe, a member of Manmohan Singh’s Congress party, was one of 53 legislators suspended.

She reacted by systematically smashing every flowerpot she could lay her hands on the grounds of the Legislature.

The Chief Minister is among 47 people named in a complaint alleging misuse of 114billion rupees (£1.5billion).

Petitioner Arvind Kumar pointed to the irregularities in the use of development funds during 2002-08 in Bihar.

The Patna High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter, a decision the government has appealed against.