Non-Congress opposition walks out of Assembly

Non-Congress opposition members in the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday created noisy scenes and staged a walkout when Speaker Datta Nalavade did not allow them raise questions on power supply in the state.

The members including Nawab Malik, Sohel Lokandwala (both Samajwadi Party), Narsayya Adam (Communist Party of India-Marxist), Shivajirao Kavhekar (Janata Dal) entered the well and trooped near the podium shouting slogans against the speaker's decision.

The speaker tried to pacify the agitating members who continued slogan-shouting and walked out of the House at the fag-end of the question hour. The speaker ruled that such pressure tactics will not be allowed.

Earlier, as soon as the House assembled for the day's proceedings, Anantrao Thopte (Congress) said that, though questions were submitted 45 days ago, written replies were not given. The speaker said that he has taken a serious note of the matter and directed the government to avoid such lapses.

UNI