Both the Houses of the assembly were adjourned for the day after pandemonium broke out over an adjournment motion moved by Opposition demanding that the government immediately announce a financial package for farmers. Both ruling alliance and Opposition charged that the other was politicizing the issues of farmers' suicides and drought.
The second day of the winter session saw sit-in in the well of the House by many former ministers and repeated adjournments. Both Congress and NCP were united on issues of drought and farmer's suicides, and seem determined not to allow any proceedings in both the Houses till the government announces a financial relief package. There was uproar in the lower house when Congress' Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Vijay Vadettiwar tried to move an adjournment motion. NCP leaders, including Ajit Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal and Jaydatta Kshirsagar shouted slogans protesting against the apathy of the government towards farmers' issues.
In upper house (legislative council), NCP nominee for leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde along with state president Sunil Tatkare led the protest. Congress state chief Manikrao Thakare had moved the motion, which was not allowed by the Chair. After repeated adjournments and a meeting with speaker Haribhau Bagade, the deadlock continued, and both the Houses were adjourned. Presiding officer in legislative council Shivajirao Deshmukh's efforts to run the House smoothly proved futile.
The opposition insisted that the government announce a financial package before taking up any discussion. And the ruling alliance insisted on a discussion to expose the failure of the previous governments.
Condemning the government, NCP leader Ajit Pawar said BJP-Sena leaders who were in the opposition for 15-long years knew the gravity of the farmers' issue, but wanted to play the blame-game.
Vikhe-Patil said government refusing a financial package showed its apathy to farmers. Thakare said the government's insensitivity had come to the fore in both the Houses. Bhujbal pointed out that the government wanted to undermine the grave situation by digging up the past.
Parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat said Congress-NCP did not want a discussion because they wanted to cover up their sins. Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said the government was determined to help the farmers but that would be possible only after the report by the Central team ascertaining the damage caused due to drought.
Suspension of 5 MLAs to continue
A committee led by Speaker Haribhau Bagade on Tuesday decided to continue with the suspension of the five Congress MLAs who allegedly manhandled governor C Vidyasagar Rao on the last day of the three-day session last month. The members of the committee, who include parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat, Ganpatrao Patil of Peasants and Workers' Party, Congress group leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Sena group leader Eknath Shinde, attended the meeting. The committee has decided to seek an appointment with governor Rao before taking a final decision on the issue, but opined that since the incident was serious, the decision to suspend the five should not be revoked at least for now.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}