Drama in Jharkhand assembly as 18 BJP MLAs suspended; were forcefully removed

Eighteen BJP MLAs from Jharkhand have been suspended from the state assembly until 2 PM on August 2. This action, taken by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto, followed their refusal to leave the House on Thursday, resulting in their removal by marshals. The suspension was in response to the chaos created by the BJP members in protest against the eviction of opposition MLAs by marshals the previous day and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's alleged refusal to answer their questions.

Leader of the Opposition Amar Bauri criticized the move, alleging that dictatorship prevails in Jharkhand. Before the session began, BJP legislators stormed the well, demanded Soren's resignation, and tore up documents, leading to heated exchanges with ruling party members.

Following the suspension, the marshals had to physically remove the BJP members from the House as they refused to leave voluntarily. This incident followed a night spent by several BJP MLAs in the assembly lobby after being evicted for protesting against the Chief Minister's refusal to address key issues, including employment.

Speaker Mahto has tasked the Assembly Ethics Committee with investigating the incident and submitting a report within a week. BJP legislators told reporters outside the assembly that democracy was "murdered" by the Speaker at the behest of the JMM-led government in the state.