SS-BJP disrupt Assembly proceedings over FIR against Rane

Mumbai, Apr 9 (UNI) Shiv Sena-BJP members in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today disrupted the proceedings of the Lower House demanding the resignation and immediate arrest of Revenue Minister Narayan Rane against whom an FIR has been registered by the police in Nagpur district last week.

The Assembly was adjourned for the day within an hour and 15 minutes, as Opposition members resorted to vociferous slogan shouting against Mr Rane. The Lower House was earlier adjourned twice during the Question Hour. Before the final adjournment, Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende, who was in the chair, rushed through the business listed on the agenda like laying of annual reports of various state government owned corporations. Budgetary demands for public works, food, civil supplies and consumer protection were passed without discussion.

The Bill of regulating state government employees transfers and preventing delays in government responsibilities was also passed without debate.

Earlier, as soon as the House assembled for the day, Leader of Opposition Ramdas Kadam raised the issue through an adjournment notice alleging that followers of Mr Rane and Congress candidate for the Ramtek Lok Sabha by-election Subodh Mohite had attacked Shiv Sena workers and broken a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Mr Kadam said criminal cases had been filed against Mr Rane and Mr Mohite following the incident, which took place on April seven during an election campaign rally. ''Such a goon should not be allowed to be a part of the state government and even sit in this House. A person who has no respect for Shivaji Maharaj has no right to live in this state,'' Mr Kadam said and demanded the resignation and arrest of the Revenue Minister, who till 2005 was a Sena leader.

Mr Kadam said if the Opposition demand for action against Narayan Rane was not heeded, the Shiv Sena-BJP would seek intervention of the Governor S M Krishna and even the President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, if needed.

''Even the people of the state would take to streets in support of the opposition demand,'' he said.

Mr Rane, who was present in the house, said the Congress-NCP-RPI roadshow in support of Mr Mohite for the Lok Sabha by-election in Ramtek was organised with due permission of the police.'' When the roadshow reached the Shiv Sena office, about 400 Shiv Sainiks made indecent gestures towards the Congress activists, hurled abuses and pelted stones. All the charges made against me are false and the facts can be ascertained through the FIR which was filed,'' he said and demanded that the statement made by Mr Kadam against him be deleted from the proceedings.

In reply to this, Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar said he would check the proceedings and take a decision. He adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

When the House was re-convened, senior Shiv Sena leader Datta Nalawade said the FIR was filed following a complaint by Anna Champatrao Vargat, who gave a detailed graphic of how the Sena workers were attacked and the role of Mr Rane and Mr Mohite in inciting the Congress activists. Mr Nalawade also said criminal cases under rule 307 and 395 of IPC have been filed against Mr Rane and Mr Mohite.

In reply to this, Mr Rane said the Sena member had read out the complaint and not the FIR. ''It only shows the ignorance of the Sena leaders. Shivaji's portrait was destroyed by Shiv Sainiks and not Congress workers. Congress has immense respect for the Maratha warrior king while the Sena has always misused the name of Shivaji for their selfish political gains,'' he added.

Mr Kupekar said police had filed an FIR and appropriate action will be taken. He said the issue cannot be taken up as an adjournment notice and hence he was disallowing it. When the Opposition members again rose to their feet, he adjourned the House till the end of the Question Hour.

UNI