ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Joshi sacks minister as Opposition stalls proceedings

The mob attack on Maharashtra Minister of State for Energy Suresh Navle and the issue of his resignation from the ministry today rocked both houses of the state legislature, as belligerent Opposition members stalled the proceedings, forcing the chair to complete the day's business within two hours amid pandemonium and a series of adjournments.

As soon as the lower house assembled at noon and the speaker took up the question hour, Congress led- Opposition members stood on their feet and demanded a discussion on Navle's resignation by setting aside the rest of the business. Notice to this effect was given by R R Patil of the Congress under rule 57.

Trouble began when the leader of the Opposition in the house, Madhukar Pichad, said he had received a copy of Navle's resignation. Navle was threatened on Monday with dire consequences by more than 200 youths, he said, and added that the House should know whether the minister had resigned following threats or whether he was pressurised to do so by the Shiv Sena to which he belonged. Pichad demanded suspension of question hour and a discussion on the issue.

When the speaker rejected the Opposition demand, agitating members including Anees Ahmed, Anandrao Deokate, Waman Dhatrak, Madhavrao Kinhalkar (all Congress), Sohail Lokhandwala (SP), Janardhan Tupe (PWP), Narsayya Adam (CPI-M) and others started shouting slogans demanding the chief minister's resignation and the dismissal of the government.

They also rushed to the well and climbed on to the podium. Some members were seen tearing papers and flinging them in the air. Siddaraj Mhetre of the Congress lifted the mace from the speaker's table and took it away. Later, the mace was put back in its place.

This provoked the treasury benches who also rushed to the well and resorted to counter-slogans and argued with Opposition members. Pichad displayed a copy of Navle's resignation and asked the chair whether the chief minister had received the same letter.

Making his statement, Joshi said he had not received Navle's letter but he had sought the permission from Governor Dr P C Alexander to sack Navle from his ministry. When the bedlam was at its peak, Joshi suddenly announced that Navle has been sacked from the council of ministers.

Joshi also moved a resolution demanding the suspension of three Congress members -- Anees Ahmed, Rajan Patil and Siddaraj Mhetre -- for misbehaving with the speaker and lifting the mace. Pichad then took strong objection to Joshi's resolution and warned that if any of the agitating member was suspended, the entire Opposition would boycott the current session of the legislature.

Meanwhile, the speaker adjourned the lower house twice for 15 minutes each and completed the entire business for the day within two hours during which four bills were introduced and five bills were passed amid unruly scenes.

In the legislative council, the leader of the Opposition, Chhagan Bhujbal, raised the same issue by a point of propriety to which the entire Opposition responded by demanding Joshi's resignation. Reading out the contents of Navle's resignation letter, Bhujbal informed the House that Navle had accused his partymen of attacking him and condemning his caste (Maratha).

However, Ravindra Mirlekar (Shiv Sena) demanded that Bhujbal's reference to caste be expunged from the records. The pro-tem chairman ruled that the contents of the letter which bears the word 'caste' can be retained and Bhujbal's version would be removed from the records.

While the Opposition's wrath continued, chairman B T Deshmukh adjourned the House.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report