MUMBAI, MARCH 31: Cries of ``Munde Hatao, Maharashtra Bachao'' (oust Munde, save the State) and ``chale jao, chale jao, corrupt Munde chale jao'' (quit, corrupt Munde) rent the peace in the State Legislative Assembly today as Congress-led Opposition urged the chair to pin the onus of the MSEB turbine scam on the Deputy Chief Minister.Disposing of a petition filed by Congressman Digvijay Khanvilkar against awarding the said Rs 187-cr contract to Powerplant Performance Improvement Ltd, a Bombay HC bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice S Radhakrishna had recently ordered a CBI probe into the deal, even as the MSEB cancelled the contract without specifying any reasons.As the House assembled for the day, Congress member Manikrao Thakre urged speaker Dattaji Nalawade to suspend the question hour to discuss the HC observations.Supporting Thakre's plea, Leader of Opposition Madhukar Pichad pointed out that since a CBI probe has been ordered against a board directly under the control of theDeputy Chief Minister, it should be discussed in the House. When Pichad made the demand, both, Chief Minister Narayan Rane and Munde were not present in the House.As Nalawade rejected the plea saying he has already given his ruling on the controversy last week, the entire Opposition resorted to heavy sloganeering. Opposition members Harshavardhan Deshmukh, Manikrao Thakre, Anandrao Deokate, Sohal Lokhandwala and Vasant Purke rushed to the podium with banners demanding the ouster of Munde, as other Opposition members entered into the fray to give their support.When repeated pleas by the Speaker failed to bring things under control, he adjourned the Assembly for a brief period.When the House reassembled, the Opposition members stuck to their demand with even more intensity prompting another adjournment. Situation reached a head when Lokhandwala virtually made an attempt to snatch a paper from the hands of the Speaker and was severely reprimanded for his misbehaviour.The entire business on the agendawas completed in less than two hours as the Congress-led Opposition members resisted the Speaker directions. Amid the din, however, the House passed the Maharashtra Appropriation (vote on account) Bill without discussion.There were three calling-attention notices on the agenda today. First was about the death of seven persons at Nandurbar in an accident, second on the sick Narsing Girji Mill at Solapur, while the third dealt with the horticulture department.A major discussion that was killed by the Opposition-led agitation in the House related to rehabilitation of farmers affected by acquisition of their land for developmental purposes. Sustained pleas by Nalawade to take up the Opposition-sponsored motion on the issue failed to register any effect among the members. The Speaker then adjourned the House for the day.
