Assembly adjourned amid opposition uproar over farmers' suicides

Nagpur, Dec 5 (UNI) The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for 15 minutes during question hour today amid an uproar from the opposition over the large number of suicides by farmers in Vidarbha region of the state.

The opposition members staged a mock funeral procession, raised slogans against the government and the Speaker and squatted in the well of the House demanding suspension of the agenda for the day and an immediate discussion on the issue.

Opposition members carried Sunil Dande on their shoulders in the House in a mock funeral procession as a token of protest over the suicides. They were stopped mid-way by members from the treasury benches. It was only after Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar asked Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam to intervene when the procession broke up.

Earlier, the opposition members rushed into the well of the House demanding that the Speaker accept their notice for an adjournment motion. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Harshavardhan Patil said the government was willing to hold a discussion vide Rule 101 and Mr Kupekar was in favour of this. However, the opposition insisted that the discussion be held vide an adjournment motion.

Mr Kupekar said he would give his ruling on the notice for adjournment motion received from the opposition when it was due as per the agenda and called out the question hour. This triggered the vociferous protests from the opposition members, who first raised slogans, then gathered before the Speaker's podium and later squatted in the well of the House raising slogans before staging the mock funeral procession.

The Speaker then announced a 15-minute adjournment as the noisy scenes continued.

UNI AB ADG LS PM1459