Demand for resignation of ‘tainted’ ministers creates uproar
Mumbai : The tit-for-tat approach adopted by the government that lead to adjournment of the assembly here on Friday, is likely leave little scope for the assembly to work even next week.
After a lull of about a week, the opposition was seen in aggressive mood. Even before the house gathered for business in the morning the opposition members were seen displaying placards and shouting slogans on the stairs of the Vidhan Bhavan building. They were demanding resignation of Education Minister Vinod Tawde over his alleged fake degree, Women and Child Welfare minister Pankaja Munde in the ‘chikki’ scam, Water Supply Minister Babanrao Lonikar and Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil against whom several allegations have been made.
They continued with their demands even in the house. But, unlike earlier occasions, the treasury benches too were seen in an aggressive mood and raised the issues like corruption in Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Economic Development Corporation (LASDC) and the Telgi Stamp Scam.
As soon as the House assembled for the day and speaker called for the question hour, leader of opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil demanded that the adjournment notice given by opposition be taken up for discussion. To counter the opposition demand, ruling BJP-Sena legislators started demanding action against NCP MLA Ramesh Kadam over corruption in LASDC and demanded his arrest. They also displayed placards about arresting middlemen of Abdul Karim Telgi, the main accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case.
This din led the house, which stared an hour early to carry out the pending business today, to close down twice for 20 and 10 minutes respectively. Speaker Haribhau Bagde, however, rushed through the day’s agenda amidst the uproar and then announced the adjourned for the day at around 11.30am.
Vikhe-Patil and NCP leader Jayant Patil persisted with demand for resignation of ministers and criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for giving them a clean chit without probe. They demanded that Fadnavis seek resignations of the ministers and then commence proceedings of the House. Rejecting the Opposition demand, Fadnavis said his government was open to probe in all allegations. “If you feel that we will bow down to your demand, you are mistaken,” he said.
Hitting out at Congress-NCP, Fadnavis alleged that there was a long list of corruption charges against Congress-NCP leaders. “These people are trying to teach us about corruption. We are a transparent government and doing our work in a clean manner. Procurements through rate contract were done since your government and now you want to target someone. Those involved in Adarsh scam have no right to speak on corruption,” he said.
Tawde also rejected charges against him while Housing Minister Prakash Mehta said if probe is ordered into functioning of the previous government. “Jayant Patil and Prithviraj Chavan could study abroad because their fathers were rich. My father was a clerk in Mhada and still he could educate him. Is that why you are making fun of me,” Tawde asked.
In the ruckus, Speaker took up the Question Hour, three calling attention notices, bills to accord official language status to Marathi and Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act amendment Bill.
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Bhujbal moves bill on corruption
Mumbai : The scheduled business of the assembly on Friday had a peculiar entry that was being discussed in the lobby of the house even after the adjournment. Senior NCP leader Chagan Bhujbal, who is facing ACB inquiry for several scams including the alleged irregularities in the construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, had moved a private member bill to amend Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Bhujbal’s bill that sought to consider even retired government officials as ‘Public Servants’ couldn’t be discussed today due to adjournment. But, Bhujbal’s intentions behind bringing up the bill remained a point of discussions in hushed voices throughout the day.
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Only 2 days work next week?
Mumbai : If the tough stand adopted by both the sides today continues, the house might see only 2 day’s business next week. Typically the assembly works only five days a week and on the second last day, the opposition puts forth the ‘last week proposal’. Next week, the assembly has holiday on Monday on account of ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’ and the opposition is unlikely to let the house work on Tuesday and Wednesday. The business advisory committee has chalked out plans for the business till July 30. Hence, it is most likely that the house might be able to carry out business only for 2 days next week.
