Maharashtra opposition demands Deshmukh’s resignation

NAGPUR - The opposition created a ruckus in the Maharashtra assembly Thursday, the last day of its winter session, demanding Vilasrao Deshmukh’s resignation from the union cabinet for favouring a legislator when he was the chief minister.

The opposition also demanded a clarification from the state government on the issue.

Opposition members trooped into the well of the house and disrupted the proceedings by shouting slogans and demanding Deshhmukh’s resignation, compelling Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke to adjourn the house for 10 minutes.

After it reassembled, the opposition continued the noisy scenes and panel speaker Sadashivrao Patil again adjourned the house for half an hour.

On re-assembling, Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse again raised the issue, alleging that Deshmukh had violated the oath of office when he asked the state police not to arrest the father of party MLA Dilip Sananda, who was engaged in the money lending business.

Khadse pointed out that Deshmukh had violated the constitutional provision of not favouring anybody and the government should make a statement on the issue.

Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai said the Supreme Court had slapped a fine of Rs.10 lakh on the state government.

Who will pay that fine? The financial burden would automatically fall on the taxpayers of the state, he contended.

Defending the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Patil said the state government had not received a certified copy of the apex court judgment, delivered last Tuesday, and hence could not comment on it.

Countering this, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Devendra Phadnavis said the judgment has been posted on the official website of the Supreme Court.

Later, Patil said the government would seek the opinion of the legal department and only then would he be able to comment on the issue.

However, the opposition continued with its slogan shouting, waving placards and the house was adjourned again for another half hour.

Reacting to the developments, Deshmukh, who is union minister for heavy industries, termed the opposition protests as political and rejected the demand for his resignation.

Deshmukh said he had sought a certified copy of the judgment to study before reacting in the matter.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court chided Deshmukh for shielding Congress legislator Dilip Sananda’s father in a criminal case and also imposed a Rs.10 lakh fine on the state government.

Farmers had filed a police complaint alleging that family members of Sananda were involved in money lending, which is banned by law.