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Maharashtra CM apprises governor about law and order scenario

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, on Friday, apprised Governor Dr P C Alexander about the unruly scenes in the assembly and the state's law and order scenario in the aftermath of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's arrest and subsequent discharge by a court. He met the governor at Raj Bhavan on Friday morning.

On July 25, following Thackeray's arrest Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party legislators went berserk in the assembly, disrupting the proceedings and causing extensive damage to the house property by their unruly behaviour.

Subsequently, thirteen Shiv Sena legislators were suspended for a period ranging from six months to one year and the government decided to abridge the monsoon session of the state assembly to three weeks instead of four as previously announced. Tough the opposition had urged the governor not to give in to the government's request, the state assembly was prorogued on Friday.

In view of these developments, the governor had summoned Deshmukh.

Later, Deshmukh told reporters that the assembly session was prorogued as the official business of the lower house was over. He clarified that the upper house would continue its sitting till August four as scheduled to take up the bills passed by the lower house. He informed that the assembly had passed a total of 12 bills, including the right to information bill, during the monsoon session.

Before the assembly was prorogued, however, the treasury benches faced a piquant situation when ruling Democratic Front legislators forced two adjournments on the issue of the strike by Maharashtra State Electricity Board workers. The workers are protesting the government's power sector reforms which includes division of the board.

As soon as the house assembled at 1000 hours (IST), Anil Babar (Nationalist Congress Party) moved a notice for an adjournment motion seeking suspension of question hour and an explanation from the government on its efforts to end the strike. Power supply has been disrupted in many parts of the state since July 24 due to the strike.

''We do not want discussion, we want an immediate reply on the government's stand,'' the DF legislators said when the Speaker suggested that the issue be discussed after question hour. Agitated members, including Harshawardhan Patil (independent), wanted the government to take action against the striking employees so that the rural people do not face such hardships. They said that three of the 11 striking unions were ready to resume duty and demanded protection for them.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was not present in the house during the uproarious scenes, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Energy Minister Dr Padamsinh Patil were.

The opposition was absent as Sena-BJP legislators boycotted the proceedings for the second day after the government remained firm on not revoking the suspension orders of the Sena legislators. Deshmukh told reporters that the atmosphere was not 'conducive' for revocation of the suspension. He defended the ruling Democratic Front government's decision to arrest Thackeray.

On the agenda, among other things, was a notice of no-confidence motion against Speaker Arun Gujarathi moved by 29 opposition legislators in the last session. But the notice lapsed due to their absence.

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