Hit-and-run case rocks Bihar Assembly

The Bihar Legislature's Budget Session kicked off on Monday with a Raj Bhawan march by the Opposition demanding the arrest of the BJP leader, who ran over nine schoolchildren and injured several others in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Saturday.

Led by Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, a delegation of RJD leaders met Governor Satya Pal Malik and demanded his intervention for the arrest of Manoj Baitha, the BJP leader from Sitamarhi whose SUV crushed nine schoolkids to death.

"More than 48 hours have passed but the killer has not been arrested because of protection from those sitting in the government. We request you to direct the government for Baitha's arrest, failing which we will launch statewide agitation," says a memorandum submitted by the RJD.

No leniency to accused

CM Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi have said that no one will be spared, and that the government will adopt no leniency, irrespective of the affiliation of the accused.
"He is on the run but the police will find him," Modi said.
Bihar DGP P K Thakur said a mobile phone had been seized from the vehicle as evidence and the accused will also be in their cuffs soon.

Governor's Address

The Day 1 of the session was also marked by the address of the Bihar Governor, who listed the achievements of the state government in the last one year and the vision for way forward. He said Bihar has been able to achieve sustained growth apart from significant improvement in law and order despite various constraints.
"The crime rate has fallen in Bihar, especially after the implementation of total alcohol prohibition, and the state was at the 22nd position in the country in crime," Malik said and added that the basic infrastructure and civic amenities has also improved considerably in the state.

Economic Survey

• The 12th Economic Survery (2017-18), released by deputy CM Modi on Monday, said the state had registered a growth rate of 10.3% in 2016-17, much above the average of around 7% for the national economy.
• "The key drivers of Bihar's economy have been mining and quarrying, manufacturing, transport, storage and communication, all of which have registered a growth rate of over 10%," Modi said.
• On Tuesday, the Bihar Government will table its budget for the next financial year, though the session is likely to be a stormy one with the Opposition raising law and order issues in both Houses.