Opposition holds 'sweet' protest

Mumbai, Mar 27 (UNI) It was a two-hour protest which the protestors must have enjoyed thoroughly.

The Opposition members in the State Legilative Assembly today sat in the well of the House even after it was adjourned for the day, protesting against Finance Minister Jayant Patil's decision to allocate Rs 5 crore to undertake developmental works in the constituencies of some legislators. The Opposition was demanding that the same allocation be made for all the legislators irrespective of their party affiliations.

So, even after the House was adjourned at 1800 hrs, the Opposition members continued to sit in the well of the House. Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam and nearly 50 Shiv Sena and BJP leaders sat in the well.

But, soon, Raj Purohit (BJP) arranged water bottles for the protestors and, thereafter, baskets of ''samosas'' and ''ladoos'' arrived. Mr Purohit had a look at press gallery and, upon perceiving that the scribes were still present, sent the eatables to the journos also.

The matter was finally resolved after two hours when Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Patil and PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal intervened. The three met the protestors and assured them that a meeting would be held at the Speaker's chamber to discuss the funds allocation issue. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister would attend the meeting. Following the assurance, the protestors dispersed.

UNI JM MAZ AG2040