Opposition din forces Council adjournment

Nagpur, Nov 20 (UNI) The Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned for 15 minutes today following the din created by the opposition which was demanding complete loan waiver for farmers in the state.

As soon as the House convened for the day, leader of the opposition Pandurang Phundkar (BJP) said that Shiv Sena leader and a member of the House Diwakar Raote and six other legislators had been stopped by security personnel from entering the Council Hall premises.

Mr Raote was leading an agitation demanding loan waiver for farmers, Mr Phundkar said, adding that the legislators were coming to the Council Hall in authorised vehicles. Preventing them from entering the premises was a breach of privilege, he contended. Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said that the legislators were in a vehicle displaying placards bearing slogans, and hence it could not be allowed inside for security reasons.

Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh said that all vehicles entering the Council Hall premises had to follow the procedure for security reasons. The security personnel had not stopped the legislators, but the vehicle, he added.

However, opposition members insisted that a vehicle that had a valid entry pass could not be stopped. Mr Phundkar said that placards on the vehicle demanded loan waiver to farmers. If the government found this objectionable then the opposition demands that the farmers should be debt-free, he added.

UNI