Continuing their protests for the second consecutive day on Wednesday over the ruling coalition's refusal to agree to discussion followed by voting on farmers' suicide issue, Opposition members in Maharashtra assembly pasted black ribbons across their mouths and staged a walkout.
NAGPUR: Continuing their protests for the second consecutive day on Wednesday over the ruling coalition's refusal to agree to discussion followed by voting on farmers' suicide issue, Opposition members in Maharashtra assembly pasted black ribbons across their mouths and staged a walkout.
Well before the House assembled, Opposition members, led by the Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, staged a dharna outside the House and shouted slogans against the attitude of treasury benches.
As the House assembled, the Opposition members, who want discussions under rule 97 that entails voting, maintained a stony silence and did not participate in the proceedings.
The government wants the discussion under rule 101 which does not entail voting.
After the Question Hour, Kadam and Munde gestured to the members to walk out.
Senior members Ganpatrao Deshmukh (PWP) and Narsayya Adham (CPI-M) urged Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar to invite senior Opposition Leader in his chamber and sort out the issue.
Legislative Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil informed the House that efforts were made last evening and it was finally decided that discussion will take place after the Question Hour but surprisingly instead of participating, the Opposition members walked out of the House.
Kupekar said he had made efforts for an amicable settlement but opposition leaders conveyed to him this morning that they would not participate in House proceedings.
Since the farmers' suicide was a serious issue and the entire agriculture fraternity was waiting for the discussion and its outcome, the opposition protest would send a poor message, Kupekar said.
Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil intervened at this point, saying since the Leader of the House and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was in the Upper House and would be free after the Question Hour, both of them were willing to hold discussion with Opposition leaders in the Speakers' chamber.
But by that time the Opposition staged the walkout and the Speaker directed the Treasury benches to initiate the discussion.
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