Pandemonium over Sena MLA’s role in riot

Immediately, Bharsakle (who has been elected from Daryapur constituency for three consecutive terms) stood up and said that about 300 to 400 Congress workers had gone on a rampage and looted shops to enforce a bandh after the incident and spread a reign of terror in the town. Deshmukh then contested his statement and accused him of assaulting the office bearers of the Mandal and encroaching on their plot.

It triggered off protests from the members of both the Sena and the treasury benches. Deshmukh and Bharsakle were seen challenging each other for a fight outside the House while their supporters created an uproar. Thakre then informed the House that the origin of the riot was the encroachment on the plot belonging to the Mandal and that the prime accused in the case was Bharsakle. This led to unruly scenes as about 25 Sena members rushed to the well of the House and about 30 Congress and NCP members too rushed therein shouting slogans.

Bharsakle told the Speaker that his life was in danger as the reign of terror in Daryapur had been spread by Deshmukh and his cronies. The accusation led to unruly scenes with protesting members from both sides shouting slogans and tearing off papers. Some Sena members walked out in protest.

Speaker Arun Gujarathi then adjourned the proceedings of the House for 15 minutes from 12.04 pm. When the House reassembled, the Sena members sat quiet while the ruling party members continued slogan-shouting and thumping the desk of the Speaker’s secretaries. Confusion prevailed as amid the din Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende first took up calling attention motions for discussion and then the secretary announced the commencement of discussion on the budgetary demands of social welfare, cultural affairs and other ministries. Shende then again announced the calling attention motions reversing the agenda. He then adjourned the proceedings for 20 minutes from 12.35 pm.

When the House reassembled again, the ruling party MLAs continued to shout slogans and create noise. Leader of Opposition Narayan Rane accused the protestors of deliberately stalling the proceedings of the House. However, the din continued despite repeated attempts by Shende to establish order. Shende then adjourned the House for 20 minutes from 1.25 pm.

When the House reassembled again at 1.45 pm Speaker Gujarathi requested both sides to cooperate in maintaining order. However, when he allowed Deshmukh to make a personal clarification over the allegation made by Bharsakle, Sena members Rane, Datta Nalawade, Gajanan Kirtikar and BJP member Gopinath Munde took strong objections. They pointed out that there was no going back on the issue.

Rane accused the Democratic Front Government of losing the moral right to continue in power as the ruling party members had resorted to indiscipline in the House right in front of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

However, the Speaker allowed Deshmukh to clarify his stand. Deshmukh stated that the person who was hurt in the incident was a reputed personality and an old Congress leader and that he had been attacked with an axe leading to a head injury. He urged the Speaker to remove the allegation against him made by Bharsakle from the proceedings of the House. The Speaker announced accordingly.

Bhujbal then told the House that after the incident, the victims had contacted the Daryapur police station but the police officer on duty Devre had failed to take any note of it. He announced that the officer would be suspended forthwith. He also announced that no person would be spared and stern action would be taken against the accused. Rane, then objected to Bhujbal’s statement pointing out that nobody had asked for the suspension of the officer and that Bhujbal had lowered the morale of the police force to favour ruling party members. BJP member Dr Daulatrao Aher pointed out that the House had wasted two and a half hours on the issue and that ministers had instigated members of the ruling parties to stall the proceedings of the House. Order was finally restored in the House around 2.15 pm.

According to the government’s written reply circulated to members, the Daryapur police station had registered offences and arrested 24 persons on a complaint filed by Rajesh Pandurangji Sagoli on behalf of Kuldeep Gawande.