Opposition boycotts proceedings of Maharashtra legislature

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and MVA MLAs protest against the Maharashtra government during the Winter Session of the state assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan on Friday in Nagpur. Pic/PTI

The Opposition boycotted the day's business in the Legislative Assembly on Friday in protest of senior MLA Jayant Patil's suspension, and to demand that a resolution to condemn the Karnataka government's stand on the border dispute be passed by its Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) counterpart in Maharashtra.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi's constituents raised slogans and held a mock house on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan. Several MLAs expressed their views. Both houses transacted some business before a resolution to pay respects to a BJP legislator from Pune, Mugdha Tilak, who passed away on Thursday. The houses were adjourned for the day.

'Govt's lame stand'

Opposition leader Ajit Pawar slammed the Shinde-Fadnavis government, accusing it of taking a lame stand against Karnataka's resolution that not an inch of land would be conceded to Maharashtra. The resolution that has been passed in the Karnataka Assembly and the police atrocities against the elected representatives from Maharashtra and Marathi-speaking people was taken up by the Opposition.

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"It has happened despite union Home Minister Amit Shah's advice that no state will raise a demand or stake claim to the territory till the court decides the dispute. The Karnataka CM has disrespected Shah. The Maharashtra CM and Dy CM haven't said anything. What is this? We will not let Karnataka take an inch from us," stated Pawar.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray saw the BJP's political design in a bid to win the Karnataka assembly polls. "They took projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat ahead of polls there. Now, they are telling Kannadigas that it will not part with land for Maharashtra," he said. Congress leader and ex-CM Ashok Chavan expected Shinde and Fadnavis to give the neighbouring state in the same vein. "What Karnataka has been doing is deplorable and the BJP's mute reaction from Maharashtra is equally deplorable," he said.

Raj meets Shinde

MNS president Raj Thackeray called on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at Vidhan Bhavan here on Friday. He was in Nagpur to guide his party workers and newly appointed office-bearers. MNS is on a mission to expand its base ahead of local body polls. Raj was in Vidarbha a couple of months ago. He had promised to return soon to give his party direction in Vidarbha.