NAGPUR, DECEMBER 13: The anti-Babri Masjid demolition riots in Aurangabad rocked both the Houses of the State legislature on the opening day of the winter session, with the aggressive opposition attacking Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal for allegedly making `irresponsible and inflammatory' statements inciting communal tension and also for his utter failure in handling the law and order situation in the State.The sensitive issue stalled the proceedings in both the Houses four times as the opposition cornered the shaky Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Democratic Front (DF) government and demanded Bhujbal's resignation. Bhujbal, who also holds the Home portfolio, was an easy target as the DF government remained on the defensive for almost the entire day.The issue was raised through separate adjournment motions by opposition leaders, Narayan Rane in the legislative Assembly and Nitin Gadkari in the Council.In Assembly, Rane alleged that the ISI and Osama bin Laden were extending help to theStudents Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) to create communal trouble in the State. The entire opposition staged a stormy walk-out in the Council when the presiding officer rejected their demand to put to vote the motion for Bhujbal's resignation. In the Assembly, the opposition raised slogans, climbed up the Speaker's podium, had heated arguments with him and even threw paper missiles.Initiating the debate in the Council, Gadkari charged that Bhujbal mishandled the situation. It was disgraceful for the Deputy Chief Minister to publicly apologise to the `instigators' of the riots, he said. He pointed out that rioters were shouting pro-bin Laden slogans.
