Two BJP legislators were on Thursday suspended from Maharashtra Legislative Council for the remainder of their term for burning haystack in Vidhan Bhawan premises here.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshawardhan Patil tabled the motion for suspending Pasha Patel and Laxmanrao Mankar from the Upper House and it was passed by a voice vote in the absence of Opposition members. Deputy Chairman Vasant Davkhare was in Chair. Patel and Mankar, among others, were involved in torching paddy straws on the steps of Vidhan Bhawan on December 13 to protest the Congress-NCP-led Democratic Front Government's "apathy" towards farmers.
Patel hails from Marathwada region, while Mankar is from Bhandara. Both have six months left out of their six-year tenure in the Council. The Minister, in his brief speech, said the fire could have damaged the Vidhan Bhawan building. Their act was not in accordance with norms stipulated for lawmakers. Earlier, as the House assembled, Opposition members were on their feet protesting against the Government's financial package for cotton, soyabean and paddy farmers.