NEW DELHI, July 31: Parliament erupted once again on the fodder scam issue today when members protested against what they called the ``collusion'' of the Bihar administration with the ruling party to prevent former CM Laloo Prasad Yadav's arrest by the CBI.

Describing yesterday's events as evidence that the ``State machinery has entirely collapsed'', Samta Party leader Nitish Kumar told the Lok Sabha that the CBI had received no help from the State machinery. ``What is the Centre planning to do about the situation in Bihar'', he wanted to know.Jaswant Singh, BJP, said the role of the State machinery was not a ``good augury''. Reports that a high court official advised the CBI to seek the help of the armed forces was a ``most deplorable and dangerous'' trend. This view was shared by former PM Chandra Shekhar who said if any judge gave the advice that the army be requested, then it held grave portents.

In his intervention, CPM leader Somnath Chatterjee said all cases of corruption should be investigated and ``no one should be exonerated''. He also cautioned against the frequent demands for imposition of President's rule under Article 356. Since the developments in Bihar dominated the zero hour in the Lok Sabha once again, many members, especially those from the southern states raised objections.

Referring to the protracted discussions on Bihar and the heated arguments between the Opposition and treasury benches on the situation in the State, Chatterjee made a plea: ``Let us not convert this House into the Bihar Assembly''. In the Rajya Sabha, several MPs from the Janata Dal and Congress asked the Prime Minister to order an inquiry into the matter. Wasim Ahmed (JD) said that a parliamentary committee should conduct a probe. After protracted protests, I K Gujral said that he would look into the issue.

The matter was raised by Laloo Yadav supporter Sompal, who quoted reports that the police had asked the Army for help to arrest Yadav. ``Under what authority did the CBI seek Army assistance and under which law?'' he asked.

Sompal pointed out that there was a regular procedure to be followed whenever civil authorities sought Army help. There was no procedure for the CBI to ask the Army for assistance, he said, and wanted to know if the court had asked the CBI to do so.

Describing the CBI's action as highly irregular and dangerous for democracy, S S Ahluwalia (Congress) asked what was the need for hurry to arrest Yadav when he had said he would surrender in court. ``If justice delayed is justice denied, then justice hurried is justice buried,'' he said. His allegation that there seemed to be a collusion between the judiciary and the prosecution (CBI), led to a commotion in the House.

Karnataka MP, R K Hegde said that the basic question was if the CBI could approach the Army directly. This could happen again, he said, and asked what action Gujral would take. Former law minister H R Bhardwaj (Congress) pointed out that only those authorised by the court could execute an arrest warrant. ``The defence forces have no role to play,'' he asserted.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.