Opp. demands Ajit Pawar’s ouster
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday continued to be the Opposition’s target for the second consecutive day in the state Legislature over his controversial remarks on drought and load shedding.
The Opposition even moved a condemnation motion against Mr Pawar in the lower House. Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil eventually rejected the motion, following which member of the Opposition didn’t allow the proceeding of the House to run and it was adjourned for the day at around 1 pm.
The members of the Opposition were in the well shouting slogans against the deputy chief minister, demanding his removal from the cabinet just after the beginning of the House proceedings at around 11 am.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said, “Mr Pawar has insulted women with his comments and lowered the stature of Maharashtra. Hence, a mere apology is not sufficient. He should quit from the post.” Mr Khadse even demanded that chief minister Prithviraj Chavan come to the House to apologise and sack the deputy chief minister from the ministry.
Meanwhile, members from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rushed to support his leader. Food and civil supply minister Anil Deshmukh said, “Since, Mr Pawar has already tendered an apology to the House, the matter is over now.”
But the Opposition continued to disrupt the proceedings, shouting slogans in the well. Later, ruling members, who were supporting Mr Pawar by shouting slogans, accompanied them. Moving the condemnation motion, Shiv Sena legislator Subhash Desai said that Mr Pawar’s remarks were derogatory and deserved to be condemned.
BJP legislator Sudhir Mungantiwar also tried to speak on the issue, but was not allowed by the speaker. The speaker also rejected the notice saying that since the deputy chief minister has apologised, the matter has ended. The House was adjourned twice before being adjourned for the day.
The Legislative Council was also adjourned for the day after the Opposition legislators staged a protest against Mr Pawar’s remarks. Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Vinod Tawde, demanded resignation of Mr Pawar and wanted a debate to be held under Rule 289, which was rejected by chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh.
Supporting Mr Pawar, NCP legislators demanded that the matter be closed. However, Mr Tawde, Sena group leader in the Council Diwakar Raote, Peasants and Workers Party’s Jayant Patil and others rushed to the well, leading to adjournment of the House twice in the day and later for the entire day.
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