PATNA, Feb. 19 -- Acrimonious scenes unfolded in the Bihar legislative council on Wednesday after a sharp war of words broke out between rural works department minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary of the JD(U) and RJD legislator Sunil Kumar Singh, who alleged that the minister's academic degree was fake. Taking strong exception, Choudhary challenged Singh to substantiate the allegation. "I challenge him to prove my degree is fake. If he cannot do it, he should not come to the House," the minister said. The confrontation was triggered when Choudhary, while replying to a starred question on paddy procurement, remarked that the MLC lacked knowledge of supplementary questions. Singh retaliated, saying he was equally aware of the minister's knowledge and alleged his degree was fake. The exchange soon escalated into a bitter argument, prompting the council chairperson to order the remarks expunged from the proceedings. Choudhary was responding to a question raised by independent MLC Maheshwar Singh regarding slow procurement of rice and delays in payment of minimum support price (MSP) to farmers, which he said was forcing cultivators to sell below MSP. Singh sought permission to ask why paddy procurement had declined in Bihar despite increases in smaller states. The minister rebuked him, leading to the confrontation. Speaking to reporters later, Singh claimed the state had reduced its procurement target from 45 lakh metric tonnes last year to 36.85 lakh metric tonnes this season. "Punjab has set a target of 190 lakh metric tonnes. The government says the Centre decides it. When smaller states procure more, why the step-motherly treatment to Bihar? Farmers are selling paddy at throwaway prices," he said. He also alleged corruption at primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), claiming officials of the State Food Corporation had flagged the issue with fortified rice kernels (FRK) affecting custom milled rice (CMR), which, he said, angered the minister. Asked about evidence for the degree allegation, Singh said he would furnish proof in due course of time and referred to past corruption allegations raised against Choudhary. Choudhary was recently appointed assistant professor in the political science department of Pataliputra University....