Maha Council: Govt, Oppn spar over Bombay HC strictures

Treasury benches and Opposition NCP were today locked in verbal duel in the Legislative Council over strictures passed by Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on government for failing to include 4,000 villages of Vidharbha in list of drought-affected villages of Maharashtra.
Notwithstanding the objection raised by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat on how Leader of Opposition (LoP) Dhananjay Munde was continuing with his speech even after Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar rejected the adjournment motion moved by him, Munde continued to raise the issue, attracting strong objections from Treasury benches.
As the uproar continued, the Chair adjourned the proceedings three times.

Raising the issue, Munde wanted to know why villages of Vidarbha were left out despite the report from Divisional Commissioner.
Making an intervention, Bapat argued why was the LoP being allowed to speak when the motion was rejected.
"The Opposition while in power could not wipe out drought in last 15 to 20 years. It is your sin," Bapat said.

After the House reassembled, deputy Chairman Vasant Dawkhare allowed Munde some more time to speak which was again strongly objected to by Bapat.
The Parliamentary Affairs minister said that it was not as per the procedure.
"We want a reply from the government. The government is trying to suppress the debate on drought," Munde said.

As the uproar continued, the Chair again adjourned the proceedings.