Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Aditya Thackeray with MVA MLAs shouts slogans as they protest against the Maharashtra Government during the Winter Session of State Assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur, on December 23.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Opposition ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’ on December 23 boycotted the proceedings on the fifth day of Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in protest against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State president Jayant Patil’s suspension for the duration of the session.
Earlier on Friday, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar led the protest of the MVA MLAs from the NCP, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Congress on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur where the session is being held.
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On Thursday, Mr. Patil was suspended after making an allegedly ‘derogatory’ remark against the Speaker, BJP’s Rahul Narwekar during the pandemonium over the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis dispensation MLAs’ demand for an SIT probe into the death of Disha Salian (former talent manager of deceased actor Sushant Singh Rajput).
The Assembly was adjourned no less than eight times during the question hour on Thursday with the ruling government MLAs demanding an SIT probe, leading to Opposition protests.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the ruling Shinde-Fadnavis government was attempting to divert attention by such moves from critical issues pertaining to the State as well as CM Shinde’s alleged involvement in the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) land allotment row.
Speaking in Delhi, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, who was in the capital for a party meeting, said the Opposition would be moving a privilege motion against Mr. Fadnavis for claiming that the Disha Salian case was not given to the CBI.
“Despite the CBI saying that Disha Salian’s death was an accident and closing it, Mr. Fadnavis is claiming that the case never went to the agency. By creating a ruckus in the Assembly, the ruling parties are trying to shield CM Shinde from corruption allegations, besides taking the focus away from vital issues. Hence, we will be moving a privilege motion against Mr. Fadnavis,” said Mr. Patole.