Maha Assembly Suspended for 10 Minutes Amid Vocal Dispute and Slogans from Members
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Nagpur, Dec 20 (NationPress) In a heated exchange of words and slogans, the state Assembly was suspended for 10 minutes on Friday due to the display of B. R. Ambedkar posters by Congress legislators Vijay Wadettiwar and Nana Patole on their desks. BJP ministers Girish Mahajan and Chandrakant Patil, along with legislators Yogesh Sagar, Prashant Thakur, Randhir Sawarkar, and others expressed strong dissent, urging Speaker Rahul Narwekar to instruct them to take down the posters. They contended that if the Congress members were permitted to display posters, they too should be allowed to do the same.
BJP legislators shouted slogans such as "Emergency lavnarya Congress cha dhikkar aso, Babasahebancha apaman karnarya Congress cha dhikkar aso, Dhongi Congress cha dhikkar aso" (Condemn Congress for insulting B. R. Ambedkar, also condemn Congress for imposing the Emergency). This led the Opposition to respond with slogans of "Jai Bhim Jai Bhim, Ambedkar Ambedkar". Despite the Speaker's repeated requests for decorum and adherence to house protocol, members from both sides continued their vocal protests, resulting in a chaotic atmosphere.
During the uproar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remarked that Ambedkar is a significant figure for everyone, suggesting that ruling party members should also be allowed to display posters just like the Congress legislators.
The Speaker clarified that according to the rules, such posters are not permitted in the House. Patole attempted to raise a procedural point, assuring that the posters would be removed after his statement. However, the Speaker denied his request, stating that the issue did not pertain to procedural norms. Shiv Sena minister Gukabrao Patil remarked that if Patole continued to speak, then he and other treasury bench members should also have the opportunity to express their views.
As the slogans persisted, the Speaker adjourned the House for 10 minutes at 11:14 a.m.
Even after the adjournment, both ruling and Opposition members continued their protests. Ruling party members brought in numerous posters of Ambedkar, displaying them on their desks. Some posters included images of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, criticizing Congress for not awarding the Bharat Ratna to Ambedkar and for his electoral defeats.
When the House reconvened at 11:25 a.m., the Speaker indicated that he would proceed with the day's agenda if the members refused to comply with his request to remove the posters. As neither side removed the posters, the Speaker announced the next agenda item, inviting members to raise the issue of propriety.
Previously, the Speaker had declared that he had rejected all adjournment motions presented by various members in his chamber. Following this, Wadettiwar attempted to draw the Speaker’s attention to an attack on the Mumbai Congress office allegedly by BJP workers the day before. However, as soon as he began, ruling party members interrupted with slogans.
Meanwhile, BJP minister Chandrakant Patil and party legislators stood on the steps of the state Assembly, chanting slogans directed at the Congress party, followed by Congress, Shiv Sena, and NCP legislators protesting against the alleged mob attack by MahaYuti workers.
