Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes over alleged irregularities in Wakf land deals.
MUMBAI: Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes over alleged irregularities in Wakf land deals, with the assembly being adjourned thrice after Revenue Minister Narayan Rane questioned Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam's right to raise the issue.
Soon after the House commenced its proceedings, opposition members led by Kadam sought a discussion on Wakf land deals. Some opposition members carried banners that alleged Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's brother Dilip was an alleged beneficiary of the land deals.
Deshmukh said the opposition was targeting him as part of a political ploy by using the Wakf controversy.
"Those who danced atop the Babri masjid are now expressing their concern over the Wakf issue, what a radical change in their outlook," Deshmukh said, referring to BJP members.
The state government is ready for a discussion on the Wakf land deals, Deshmukh said. "The opposition has criticised me in the matter. Let there be a discussion, the truth will come out."
The atmosphere in the House changed when Rane questioned the 'propriety' of Kadam continuing as a member after withdrawing a question on corruption charges against a PWD engineer.
Rane, a former colleague of Kadam in the Shiv Sena, said, 'Kadam has no right to raise the issue.'
"During the last assembly session, Kadam submitted a question over corruption by an executive engineer in the PWD but later withdrew it suddenly. What was it that made Kadam withdraw the question," Rane asked.
Opposition members shouted sloagans against Rane. Ruling members too shouted slogans and the House witnessed noisy scenes, prompting Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar to adjourn it for 15 minutes. As the noisy scenes continued when the House assembled later, it was again adjourned twice.
BJP group leader Eknath Khadse objected to the manner in which Rane 'tried to deviate from the main (Wakf) issue'.
He and Kadam asked the Speaker to expunge Rane's remarks. Kupekar said the concerned remarks would be later expunged.
Later, speaking to reporters at Vidhan Bhawan, Rane said there was an 'irregularity' in Kadam withdrawing the question on the PWD engineer.
Speaking on the issue in the House, Rane recalled that some Lok Sabha members had been suspended in the cash-for-queries scam.
"Similarly, Kadam has no right to continue as a member of the House and he should also step down as Leader of Opposition," he said.
Asked during his press briefing if he was challenging the authority of Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar, who had allowed Kadam to withdraw the question, Rane said he had 'no such intention'.
A discussion on the Wakf land deals is likely to take place on Wednesday.
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