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The three-week monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature witnessed a stormy start on Monday with opposition parties targeting the government over scams involving ministers, deteriorating law and order situation, and demanding loan waiver for debt-ridden farmers.
The Opposition, led by Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were joined by smaller parties to put up a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. The opposition members sat at the entrance of the Legislature shouting slogans against the Devendra Fadnavis government.
The Opposition’s primary target was education minister Vinod Tawde in connection with the Rs 191-crore sanction for the procurement of fire extinguishers for zilla parishad schools without following tender process. Women and child welfare minister Pankaja Munde, too, was under attack for her department’s move to issue 24 government resolutions in one single day for the purchase of Rs 206 crore worth of items under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
ALSO READ: After Pankaja, Vinod Tawde of BJP under lens for fire extinguisher scam
This apart, the Opposition shouted slogans against water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar for allegedly holding fake degrees.
Chief Minister Fadnavis, too, came under attack for his statement on Sunday that the government was not keen on loan waivers. He subsequently announced restructuring of farm loans.
Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, former chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Shivajirao Deshmukh, former speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse Patil and other legislators were at the forefront of agitation. They displayed posters and banners to press their demands.
Chavan told Business Standard : “The show of unity will remain intact in and outside the Legislature. Opposition will press for loan waiver for farmers and expose the government on a number of issues.’’
ALSO READ: 'Bogus' degree row: Congress workers protest outside Tawde residence
When the House assembled, the Opposition objected to the day’s agenda saying the questions were listed contrary to the Business Advisory Committee’s decision that only condolence motion would be taken up. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, and NCP’s Jayant Patil and Walse Patil raised this issue and finally Speaker Haribhau Bagde announced the withdrawal of questions from the agenda.
However, the Opposition entered the Well of the House and shouted slogans. After some heated arguments, the House passed the condolence motion.
The Opposition, led by Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), were joined by smaller parties to put up a united fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. The opposition members sat at the entrance of the Legislature shouting slogans against the Devendra Fadnavis government.
The Opposition’s primary target was education minister Vinod Tawde in connection with the Rs 191-crore sanction for the procurement of fire extinguishers for zilla parishad schools without following tender process. Women and child welfare minister Pankaja Munde, too, was under attack for her department’s move to issue 24 government resolutions in one single day for the purchase of Rs 206 crore worth of items under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
ALSO READ: After Pankaja, Vinod Tawde of BJP under lens for fire extinguisher scam
This apart, the Opposition shouted slogans against water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar for allegedly holding fake degrees.
Chief Minister Fadnavis, too, came under attack for his statement on Sunday that the government was not keen on loan waivers. He subsequently announced restructuring of farm loans.
Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, former chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Shivajirao Deshmukh, former speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse Patil and other legislators were at the forefront of agitation. They displayed posters and banners to press their demands.
Chavan told Business Standard : “The show of unity will remain intact in and outside the Legislature. Opposition will press for loan waiver for farmers and expose the government on a number of issues.’’
ALSO READ: 'Bogus' degree row: Congress workers protest outside Tawde residence
When the House assembled, the Opposition objected to the day’s agenda saying the questions were listed contrary to the Business Advisory Committee’s decision that only condolence motion would be taken up. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, and NCP’s Jayant Patil and Walse Patil raised this issue and finally Speaker Haribhau Bagde announced the withdrawal of questions from the agenda.
However, the Opposition entered the Well of the House and shouted slogans. After some heated arguments, the House passed the condolence motion.
