Mumbai: Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned for a third consecutive day today without conducting any business after the Opposition insisted on a judicial probe against “tainted” ministers while the BJP-led government refused to bow down to their demand.
As soon as the House assembled, Narayan Rane (Congress) sought to know why was the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government “scared” of ordering an inquiry against “tainted” ministers if it has nothing to hide.
“We have submitted all proofs we had against the corrupt ministers. Why is the government scared to accept our demand if they are as clean as claimed by ‘Mr Clean’ Devendra Fadnavis (the Chief Minister)?” he said.
He said a probe under the Commission of Inquiry Act will prove the veracity of claims of Fadnavis, who has refuted charges of wrongdoing by his Cabinet colleagues.
“How can Fadnavis, who has approved the files, thereby making him responsible for his ministers’ corruption, give a clean chit to them? On top of it, these ministers are replying to our charges and absolving themselves,” Rane said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat stood up to reply to Rane’s charges but Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar adjourned the House when Opposition members started shouting slogans against the government.
When the House reassembled, Bapat expressed displeasure over the bedlam and said after the ministers facing charges have given statements and clarified their position, it was not right to disrupt the House.
“Please let the House function. All answers have been given to the Opposition,” Bapat maintained.
However, the Opposition did not relent and the din continued, leading to another adjournment.
On reassembling, Rane harped on the Opposition demand.
“If you say you are transparent and want a corruption- free India, make Maharashtra corruption-free first. We are not satisfied with the replies of your Ministers and hence want an inquiry to be conducted,” the former Chief Minister said.
When the members once again raised slogans against the Government, the House was adjourned for the day.
Opposition Congress and NCP have highlighted alleged “wrongdoing” by nearly half-a-dozen Ministers, who have denied the charges, and sought an inquiry against them by a sitting High Court Judge.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:cobrapost.com)
