State backtracks on AG’s affidavit
Following an uproar on two consecutive days over an affidavit filed by advocate general Darius Kha-mbatta in the high court, the state government on Friday backtracked on its stance and assured both the Houses of the state legislature that the directives given by the governor are binding on the government under article 371(2) of the Constitution and will be followed in the future as well.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan rectified the government’s stance in the Assembly. In a statement, the chief minister said, “The funds allocated for the development of Vidarbha and Marathwada region will be utilised according to the directives of the governor and shall not be diverted elsewhere. I want to assure the House that the government is committed to equitable development of all the regions of the state.”
Meanwhile, chairman of the legislative council Shivajrao Deshmukh called an all-party meeting that was attended by the chief minister, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in council Vinod Tawde along with group leaders from all the political parties.
The advocate general, who was especially called by the government to discuss the controversy, also attended the meeting. According to the sources present in the meeting, both the CM and advocate general admitted that the statement submitted in the high court was wrong and that they had to change their stand in the court.
Additionally, legislators across political lines from Vidarbha and Marathw-ada refused to run the House, and the lower House was adjourned thrice when the all-party meeting was in progress. As the lower House asse-mbled for the day at 11 am, senior BJP legislator Girish Bapat requested the chair to postpone the proceedings by an hour while the all party meeting was underway. “We need to know the outcome of the meeting. It will end in an hour’s time. With-out knowing what has transpired in the meeting, we cannot allow the house to function,” he said.
Members from the Opposition gathered in the well of the House in support of the demand.
Another Congress legislator from Amravati, Yashomati Thakur, questioned the affidavit and said, “How can such statements can be passed, are we not a part of Maharashtra?”
Deputy speaker Vasant Purke urged the members to allow the question hour to take place, but was forced to call for ajournment.
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