Maharashtra: There was a huge uproar during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. Congress MLA and former Assembly Speaker Nana Patole was suspended from the House for a day for climbing the Speaker’s podium during the proceedings of the Assembly. He has been barred from participating in the day’s proceedings.
According to the Dynamite News correspondent, the uproar started when Nana Patole was raising questions about the problems of farmers in the state and the Shaktipeeth Highway scheme. During this, he went near the Speaker’s chair and registered his protest and allegedly tried to climb the podium. He also touched the scepter placed in front of the Speaker.
This incident happened in front of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar, who immediately ordered Patole to be suspended for the day.The opposition expressed displeasure over this entire incident and said that Nana Patole was not allowed to put forth his point in the House. On the other hand, on behalf of BJP, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized the Congress MLA and said that such conduct is unacceptable and is not expected from a senior leader.
He also demanded an apology from Nana Patole. However, Patole remained adamant on his demands and again reached near the Speaker’s seat and started demanding action against BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikkar and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate. On this, the Speaker took strict action and expelled him from the House for a day.
At the root of this controversy are the statements made by Lonikkar and Kokate recently. Addressing a gathering in Partur of his assembly constituency Jalna, Lonikkar had said that the farmers who criticize the government and his party should not forget that they get clothes, mobiles, shoes, and benefits of schemes only because of the ruling party.
At the same time, Agriculture Minister Kokate had accused the farmers of using the loan waiver amount in weddings. He also said that the amount of crop insurance given by the government is very little, and some people are misusing it. Congress accused the BJP of insulting the farmers over these statements, and Patole reacted sharply in the assembly on this issue, which ultimately led to his suspension.