Oppn to move no-trust motion against Speaker

Therefore, the Sena-BJP combine has decided to move a no-confidence motion against him. The Sena and BJP legislators as also the independent legislators supporting us will meet tomorrow to decide the future course of action,” the Leader of the Opposition, Narayan Rane, said.

Rane said, since he was making specific allegations against the Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, he had given a notice to the Legislature Secretariat as required under the existing rules. In his reply, Bhujbal, instead of making a personal clarification, delivered a full-fledged speech, part of which was also the official reply to the Governor’s address.

Rane said, the debate on the Governor’saddress was not complete since at least four members on each side were still waiting for their turn. “Since the debate was not over, it was improper for the Speaker to grant permission to Bhujbal to submit his personal explanation,” Rane added.

Earlier, allegations and counter-allegations marked the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. The House also witnessed a war of words between Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Narayan Rane.

Initiating the debate, Rane alleged that though the Democratic Front Government was making charges of bankruptcy against the erstwhile Sena-BJP government, the new government has not taken any steps to mobilise resources.

“No steps have been taken by the new government. In fact, the car being used by Bhujbal is also registered in Karnataka. Had the car been registered in Maharashtra, we would have received additional revenue by way of registration charges and motor vehicle tax,” Rane alleged.

Rane came down heavily on the chief minister forstaying the decision taken by the Sena-BJP government. The former chief minister alleged that the Government has also stayed such decisions in which final work orders were issued either by the Public Works or the Irrigation departments. “I have specific information that a contractor was called to Baramati to finalise the deal and in another case, gangsters from the infamous Dagdi Chawl had telephoned a contractor for protection money,” Rane said.

Bhujbal replied to the allegations in his usual lucid style, which caused major embarrassment to the Sena-BJP. “After we took over, we have reduced security for myself as well as the Chief Minister. However, during the earlier rule, security was provided to several persons, even not connected with the government work,” Bhujbal submitted.

On the issue of car raised by Rane, Bhujbal informed the House that he was not the owner of the car and that it belonged to a prominent singer, who had given it to him for temporary use.

Confirming that his government hadstayed all the decisions taken by the earlier government, Bhujbal said it was essential, since the new government has a right to review the decisions. “Just in two months, the Sena-BJP government disbursed 54 plots. We will certainly inquire into it,” Bhujbal said.

On the multi-crore Enron project, Bhujbal said since 40 per cent of the work on the second phase of the project is complete, it will be unwise to scrap the project. “You had promised to dump the project in the Arabian sea.

However, in a volte face, the Sena-BJP not only revived the project, but also granted permission for the second phase,” Bhujbal said. Claiming that the law and order situation in the State had improved after the Front Government came to power, Bhujbal indirectly blamed the Shiv Sena for violence in Aurangabad.