MLAs in free-for-all outside Vidhan Bhavan

MUMBAI, MARCH 15: The battle of vocal chords witnessed in the Maharashtra Legislature for the last two days assumed physical dimensions on...

MUMBAI, MARCH 15: The battle of vocal chords witnessed in the Maharashtra Legislature for the last two days assumed physical dimensions on the third day today, with ruling and opposition members engaging in “fisticuffs” in the precincts of the Vidhan Bhavan, leading to disruption of proceedings in both the Houses.

It was for the first time in the State’s legislative history,that such an unruly incident has been witnessed.

The Legislative Assembly had to be adjourned within one and half hours after assembling for the day with Speaker Arun Gujrathi conducting the day’s business hurriedly, while the Upper House was adjourned in less than an hour. Both the Houses will now meet on Tuesday after a five-day recess.

The Opposition met State Governor Dr P C Alexander demanding the dismissal of the government while the leaders of the constituent partners of the Democratic Front government also met the Governor to present their side of the story. Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Narayan Rane blamed Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal for the unruly incident in the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

The Sena-BJP members were staging a protest in the Vidhan Bhavan premises since 0900 hrs to protest against the government’s apathy to their demands made in the Legislature. They had blocked all entry gates preventing legislators, ministers, Vidhan Sabha staff, journalists and even the Speaker from entering the Vidhan Bhavan.

At around 1045 hrs, deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal alongwith some Nationalist Congress Party ministers and legislators arrived at the main gate. They tried to break the cordon and enter the Vidhan Bhavan premises which resulted in a scuffle between the opposition and ruling coalition members.

Higher and technical education minister Dilip Valse-Patil also jostled with Sena MLC Diwakar Raote to force his entry into the Vidhan Bhavan.

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The saffron alliance members alleged that in the melee that ensued, some of their legislators were brutally pushed to the ground and even threatened. Similar allegation was made by the ruling coalition members as well.

Ever since the seven week budget session met on Monday, an aggressive opposition had been demanding the arrest of Mumbai unit Samajwadi Party president Abu Asim Azmi for his alleged “anti-national” utterances, and other pressing issues like non-payment of dues to cotton and onion growers, pruning of security to Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray and hike in the prices of essential commodities.

A woman minister in the DF Government, Surekha Kumbhare, was also allegedly roughed up by the agitating Opposition members.

The Lower House proceedings began at 11.00 am without the opposition members, who stayed away from the proceedings.

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When the House reassembled, Minister for Rural Development R R Patil urged the Speaker to suspend the Opposition members from the House for creating unruly scenes.

Members of the treasury benches also joined in the demand, shouting slogans. The House was then adjourned for 10 minutes.

After the House reassembled, Opposition members entered the House. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Narayan Rane, alleged that DF Government had brought in “outside” goons to suppress the agitation of Opposition members.