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After days of flip-flop and continuous disruption of proceedings in the Legislative Council, the Maharashtra government today agreed for a debate on the multi-crore irrigation scam, which will be held tomorrow.
"The debate on the issue will be held in the Upper House tomorrow as per the assurance given by Ajit Pawar," Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Vinod Tawde told reporters here after a meeting in the Chairman's chamber attended by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and his deputy.
The government also assured that it would revoke the suspension of senior Shiv Sena legislator Diwakar Raote, who was suspended for using "unparliamentary" language, he said.
"Raote did not use any unparliamentary language. Yes, he was a bit too loud in the Chairman's chamber. He also accepted the Chairman's decision and said it was supreme," Tawde said.
Earlier, when proceedings began in the House, Opposition legislators launched a dharna (sit-in) in the Well of the House for disallowing debate on the irrigation scam as well as on the issue of Raote's suspension, leading to four adjournments.
On Bombay High Court's interim order on the irrigation scam, Tawde said Opposition legislators will not refer to matters which are sub-judice and those related to the Governor.
"The Governor had assured that rights of the Opposition parties will remain unaffected. However, we could not see any positive step from the government to hold a debate and to revoke the suspension of Diwakar Raote. Therefore, we decided to stage a sit-in," he said.
