Chaos in Bihar Assembly Why a Remark on Brahminism Sparked a Political Storm

If you think legislative sessions are just about dry policy discussions, the recent showdown in the Bihar Assembly will change your mind. What started as a debate over educational rules quickly turned into a high-voltage clash involving caste, personal history, and accusations of "betrayal."

Here is a simple breakdown of the drama that unfolded.

The Spark: UGC Rules and Caste Discrimination

The fire was lit by CPIML (Liberation) MLA Sandeep Sourav. He raised a concern about discrimination in higher educational institutions and urged the Bihar government to implement new UGC (University Grants Commission) guidelines.

However, his argument took a sharp turn when he used the term "Brahminical mindset" to describe those opposing these rules. He pointed out that between 2019 and 2024, caste-related conflicts in higher education had jumped by 118%, citing tragic cases like that of Rohit Vemula.

The Backlash: "Stop Sowing Poison"

The mention of "Brahminism" didn't sit well with the ruling party. Deputy CM Vijay Sinha took the lead in the rebuttal, and it got personal.

Sinha, who identifies as a Bhumihar-Brahmin, shared his own struggle. He recalled his days at a technical college in Muzaffarpur, where he said he was ragged and forced out of his hostel. His message was clear: discrimination isn't exclusive to one group, and using such labels only weakens the country.

"You are shredding Dr. Ambedkar's dream of a caste-less society," Sinha said. He went as far as to say that people who sow such "poisonous" seeds of division are "traitors" to society.

The Defense: Mentality vs. Caste

The opposition wasn't backing down either. RJD’s Alok Mehta stepped in to clarify that the MLA wasn't attacking a specific caste, but rather a "mindset." Meanwhile, BJP’s Mithlesh Tiwari took a religious route, reminding the house that even Lord Krishna had washed the feet of his poor Brahmin friend Sudama.

The Final Call: Action by the Speaker

As the shouting match intensified and both sides traded barbs, Speaker Prem Kumar had to step in. Recognizing that the debate was spiralling out of control, he took a decisive step: he ordered the word "Brahminism" to be removed from the official assembly proceedings.

The Bigger Picture

This isn't just a verbal spat. It highlights the deep-rooted sensitivities around caste in Bihar’s politics. While the opposition frames the issue as a fight for social justice in education, the ruling party sees it as an attempt to divide the voters along caste lines ahead of the upcoming elections.

In the end, while the word was erased from the records, the tension in the room remained very real.

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