Maharashtra Budget Session: Furore over Sanjay Raut’s ‘chormandal’ remark

Sanjay Raut, leader of the Thackeray Sena, faces a breach of privilege motion for calling the state legislature a house of thieves. BJP and Shinde Sena members demanded his immediate arrest.

The Rajya Sabha MP, while talking to reporters in Kolhapur earlier in the day, allegedly called the "vidhimandal" (legislature) a "chormandal" (a house of thieves), triggering uproar in the Assembly.

In the Lower house, BJP's Atul Bhatkhalkar and Shinde Sena's Bharat Gogawale moved a motion against Raut and the treasury benches demanded action against him for insulting the august house.

Bhatkhalkar demanded that the privilege committee of the house be sent the notice for inquiry on Wednesday itself and the matter be decided before the end of the budget session.

Demand for his arrest

Members of the Shinde Sena demanded Raut's arrest and asked the MP to resign "because we all voted to send him to the Rajya Sabha".

Also Read: Lower house adjourned after Raut's 'chormandal' remark rocks Maharashtra assembly

The situation in the Upper house was no different. BJP members Ram Shinde and Pravin Darekar submitted their motion to the chairman, demanding the immediate arrest of Raut. Chairperson Neelam Gorhe refused to issue any such orders, saying that she would first verify the allegation.

The matter disrupted the proceedings of both the houses repeatedly, leading to several adjournments amid slogan shouting. The day's business could be carried out for only a couple of hours. The houses will reconvene on Thursday.

‘Act against Shinde, too'

Sensing the seriousness of the matter, senior Opposition leaders in the Assembly asked that the allegations be verified, while some of them also demanded similar action against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for calling them ‘rashtradohi' (anti-national).

NCP's Ajit Pawar, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said that no one had the right to call legislators thieves. "If this has been said, we must verify the truth of the matter, and then the house can take necessary action against the people involved."

Congress leader Nana Patole wanted the house not to waste any more time on the discussion and instead leave the matter to the speaker, because the chair has the powers to take suo motu cognisance.

Decision on March 8

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar allowed both sides to speak and then admitted the motion. The privilege committee was formed late Wednesday evening. It will process the matter and the Speaker will announce his decision on March 8.

In the Legislative Council, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said such remarks were unbearable, and if "we were to allow it, then it is even more serious". "Raut's leader Uddhav Thackeray is also a member of the legislature. Will Raut also call him a thief," he asked.

"If nothing was done, then there would be hundreds of Sanjay Rauts making such insulting remarks against the lawmaking body," he added.

‘See the context first'

Opposition leader in the Council Ambadas Danve of the Thackeray faction asked chairperson Gorhe to understand the context of the remarks and the situation in which they were made. He wanted to convey that the remarks were aimed at the Shinde faction, not the entire legislature.

Raut said, "I will face the action. Why not? I am not afraid. I'm not a thief. I represent Balasaheb and Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena. I have even been to jail without any fear."

The punishment for the breach of privilege ranges from a warning to imprisonment. The matter is referred to the privilege committee of the respective house for investigation and recommending action.