Oppn demands debate on Laine’s book on Shivaji

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Shivaji was an iconic figure and the government was ready to discuss the matter.

The monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly got off to a stormy start on Monday with Opposition raising the issue of Supreme Court lifting the ban on James Laine’s controversial book on Chhatrapati Shivaji,and Centre’s affidavit on the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

As soon as the House assembled,Opposition members were on their feet and rushed to the Well shouting slogans “Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai” and demanded that their adjournment notice to discuss the issue setting aside the day’s agenda,be taken up for debate.

Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said the issue over US author’s controversial book concerns ‘defamatory references’ to the legendary king and needs to be debated.

PWP leader Ganpatrao Deshmukh said the boundary dispute with Karnataka also should be taken up for discussion immediately.

Intervening in the matter,Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Shivaji was an iconic figure and the government was ready to discuss the matter.

The House was adjourned for ten minutes with Speaker Dilip Walse Patil calling a meeting of group leaders on how to proceed with the debate.

Later,the House was adjourned till 1300 hours. When the House re-assembled,Walse Patil said that the James Laine issue would be taken up for discussion today while the boundary dispute would be discussed tomorrow.

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The House then took up the condolence motion for former Vice Presidetn Baironsinh Shekhawat,former Speaker Madhukarrao Chaudhary,Rajasthan Governor and former member of the House Prabha Rau and former members– Narendra Tidke,Keshavrao Rane,Baburao Kotwal and Jaywantrao Kharat.

On Sunday,the Government announced a three-member Committee comprising Advocate General,Law Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to explore legal options on how to stop printing and circulation of the book in the state.

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