 "Ruckus in Maharashtra assembly over demand for Marathwada state")
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday was isolated after its partner Shiv Sena and opposition parties joined hands to strongly demand the suspension of the Maharashtra advocate general Shrihari Aney for demand for the state hood for Marathwada.
Aney, who has been an ardent supporter for the separate Vidarbha state, during his speech at Jalna on Sunday argued that Marathwada state was the need of the hour as injustice has been meted against it.
Aney, who has been an ardent supporter for the separate Vidarbha state, during his speech at Jalna on Sunday argued that Marathwada state was the need of the hour as injustice has been meted against it.
Aney, who hails from Vidarbha, did not stop there but suggested that a people's movement is needed to pursue statehood for Marathwada.
Shiv Sena leader and state environment minister Ramdas Kadam declared that the party ministers won't attend cabinet meeting nor his members participate in the proceedings of the state legislature unless and until government removes Aney from the AG's post. Several Sena legislators demanded that Aney be booked for treason.
The state assembly was adjourned for four times as members shouted slogans demanding an immediate action against Aney. Incidentally, neither the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis nor the revenue minister Eknath Khadse were present in the house.
However, when the house reassembled Khadse disowned Aney's demand. But the members from ruling and opposition shouted slogans for united Maharashtra and amidt uproar the assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde adjourned house for the day.
Fadnavis later told reporters that the AG should not air his personal views instead put up argument on state policies.
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Government sources indicated that Aney will not wait for government action but submit his resign and the chief minister will make announcement in this regard on Tuesday in the state legislature.
Earlier, as the house assembled at 11 am, the leader of opposition Radhkrishna Vikhe-Patil appealed to the speaker Haribhau Bagde that the question hour should be suspended to discuss the views expressed by Aney on statehood for Marathwada.
He recalled that when Aney had openly supported separation of Vidarbha from Marathwada last year the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had termed it as his personal opinion. However, Vikhe-Patil demanded that state's first legal officer should not speak the language of separation of Maharashtra which was formed in 1960. It would be insult of those 106 persons who became martyrs.
He recalled that when Aney had openly supported separation of Vidarbha from Marathwada last year the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had termed it as his personal opinion. However, Vikhe-Patil demanded that state's first legal officer should not speak the language of separation of Maharashtra which was formed in 1960. It would be insult of those 106 persons who became martyrs.
Vikhe-Patil's demand was supported by the Nationalist Congress Party group leader Jayant Patil who also pressed for Aney's resignation or the immediate suspension by the government.
BJP's ruling ally Shiv Sena, who has been quite vocal on Akhand Maharashtra (united Maharashtra), also sung opposition's tune demanding immediate removal of Aney. Shiv Sena member Pratap Sarnaik, who has already filed a privilege motion against Aney last year over his support to statehood for Vidarbha, said the advocate general should not have made speech recommending statehood for Marathwada especially when no one has made demand in this regard. Instead of keeping the interest of Maharashtra interest, the advocate general has been delivering speeches for its separation and the Sena would not tolerate it, he warned.
A veteran leader of Peasants and Workers Party Ganpatrao Deshmukh also expressed serious displeasure over Aney's proposal for Marathwada state and demanded his resignation or suspension by the government.
NCP leader and former assembly speaker Dilip Walse-Patil also cited the Constitutional provision for the appointment and duties of the advocate general and demanded action against him.
meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council was also adjourned for the day on the same issue. Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde said Aney insulted the martyrs who laid down their lives to create the united Maharashtra and questioned as to how Aney, despite being the Advocate General, could make a statement against the interests of the state.