Opposition walkout in Mah Assy over Wani firing

Nagpur, Dec 11 (UNI) The entire Opposition staged a walkout in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today over the absence of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister to reply to a discussion on an adjournment motion on a farmer's death in Friday's police firing in Wani in Yavatmal district of Vidarbha region.

The walkout came after the adjournment motion was rejected in the House by a voice vote.

Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam said the absence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R. R. Patil was evidence of the government's insensitivity towards the plight of farmers in the state. The government was adding insult to the injury of the farmers who were already reeling under a severe agrarian crisis, Mr Kadam said.

Minister of State for Home Siddharam Mhetre said the government did not justify the firing by the police at the procurement centre in Wani. The police resorted to firing after agitated farmers locked two employees of the Maharashtra State Cotton Growers' Marketing Cooperative Federation in a room and tried to set it on fire, Mr.

Mhetre said.

A judicial inquiry had been ordered into the firing, Mr Mhetre said adding that the government would initiate strict action against those responsible for the firing after receiving the inquiry report.

Earlier, Minister for Marketing Harshavardhan Patil said the security at sensitive cotton procurement centres in the state would be beefed up.

A total of 191 procurement centres were functioning across the state, and the government had approved 60 more, to be opened soon, he said.

Mr Patil reiterated that the state government would purchase all cotton that was brought to it at the minimum support price (MS) announced by the Centre and the payments would be released within 15 days. The government would ensure that adequate arrangements were made at all the procurement centres, the minister said.

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