There was a ruckus in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut allegedly called the legislature a chormandal. Along with the ruling party, members of the opposition parties also condemned Raut’s remarks. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar has accepted the breach of privilege motion against Raut, considering it a serious matter.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar raised the issue as soon as the proceedings of the lower house of the assembly began. He said that the MLAs are being called thieves and this is an insult to the state. BJP’s Atul Bhatkhalkar said he has given a notice of breach of privilege against Raut. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar has been requested to accept it.
Narvekar said he has accepted the breach of privilege motion against Raut and will give his verdict on March 8. He said that the issue is very serious and it is an insult to the legislature, its members and the people of the state. This matter requires detailed investigation. Raut’s remarks have hurt the dignity, sanctity and sovereignty of the House and its members. It is my constitutional duty to protect it.
Leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar and Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat also said such remarks were unacceptable. The NCP and the Congress are allies of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Thorat said it needed to be clarified what exactly Raut said. At the same time, everyone should be careful about the kind of words being used in the House. We have even been called anti-national.
Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde were insisting that the breach of privilege notice should be accepted. The lower house was adjourned four times – first by Speaker Narvekar for 10 minutes, then by Presiding Officer Yogesh Sagar for 20 minutes and 30 minutes, and later by the Speaker for the day due to uproar over Raut’s alleged remarks .
Sanjay Raut is currently on a tour of Kolhapur for Shivgarjana and Shivsamvad initiatives. Raut hit out at the Shinde faction saying that there is a fake Shiv Sena in the legislature and it is a gang of thieves. Significantly, this is not the first time that such words have been used by the Uddhav faction after the rebellion of the Shinde faction. Earlier also Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have used words like traitor, 50 khokha, baap-chor etc after the split of the party. In fact, recently, the Apex Election Commission has recognized the Shinde faction as the real one by giving it the name Shiv Sena and the bow and arrow election symbol.
