18 October,2023 11:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Narwekar/ Pic: Ashish Raje
In a fresh assault, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena targeted Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, asserting that safeguarding the government from the "dishonest" is tantamount to betraying the country, stated a report in PTI.
This sharp critique, as expressed in the party's official publication Saamana, follows the recent development of the Supreme Court granting Narwekar a final opportunity to provide a realistic timeline for resolving the cross-petitions lodged by rival factions within the Shiv Sena, each seeking the disqualification of the other's MLAs after a party schism, stated the report.
The editorial in Saamana underscored a perceived reluctance on the part of the "Narwekar tribunal" to comply with the directives of the apex court. According to Shiv Sena (UBT), the Supreme Court's recent stance is clear, with 40 rebel MLAs, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, being deemed disqualified.
The editorial emphatically asserted, "To protect the government of the dishonest is not upholding the Constitution but is tantamount to betraying the country." Furthermore, it highlighted that the speaker appeared unresponsive to the Supreme Court's admonishment, potentially resulting in a state of anarchy by disregarding the court's orders.
Supreme Court stresses on need for expeditious resolution
The Supreme Court intensified its scrutiny of the delay in deciding disqualification petitions against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena MLAs loyal to him. The court criticised the state assembly speaker, stating that the proceedings must not be a mere charade, and he cannot "defeat" its orders, as reported by PTI.
The Supreme Court directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Speaker Narwekar, to provide a timeline for deciding the petitions by Tuesday, warning that it would issue a peremptory order if it remains dissatisfied.
The apex court has, in turn, stressed the need for an expeditious resolution of the disqualification petitions.
Previously, on September 18, the Supreme Court instructed the speaker to specify a timetable for resolving the disqualification petitions against Shinde and Shiv Sena MLAs who had aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a new government in June 2022. The Court instructed the solicitor general to inform the bench about the speaker's proposed schedule for handling the disqualification pleas of 56 MLAs, including those from the Shinde faction.
The Thackeray faction had petitioned the apex court in July, seeking a directive for the state assembly speaker to expedite the disqualification petitions in a time-bound manner.
