19 opposition MLAs suspended for 9 months for disrupting Budget session


Mumbai, Mar 22 (Deccan Chronicle): Maharashtra Assembly Haribhau Bagde on Wednesday suspended 19 opposition MLAs till December 31, 2017, for disrupting the proceedings of the state Budget on March 18.

The main issue of contention for which slogans were raised was the government’s reluctance to announce loan waiver for farmers.

Several Opposition members tried to disrupt the Budget presentation in protest. Opposition legislators even burnt copies of the budget outside the Legislature in protest.

As part of their protest, the Opposition sang bhajans and used cymbals to disrupt the finance minister’s speech.

Leader of the Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, called the state government’s decision to not announce loan waiver for farmers a “betrayal”.

“The state government has cheated farmers by making a promise for a loan waiver. The citizens were betrayed, cheated, and disappointed by this budget,” Patil said.

Despite demands from the Shiv Sena and other Opposition parties, Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar did not make any announcement on the loan waiver for farmers.

The government, however, allocated Rs 8,233 crore for various irrigation projects for the farmers.

"Maharashtra's growth rate for 2016-17 was 9.4 percent and we aim to take this at least in double digit in the coming year (2017-18). For farmers, Rs 8,233 crores has been allocated for water resources and Rs. 2,812 crore has been allocated for Prime Minister's irrigation scheme proposed for year 2017-18," Mungantiwar said while reading out the budget.

The BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state has also allocated lesser funds for the welfare of minorities in the state budget for the financial year 2017-18.

In the budget presented on Saturday in the state Assembly, the allocation for the welfare of minorities was Rs 350 crore as compared to Rs 405 crore in 2016-17.

Various schemes for scholarships, training of minority youth and creation of basic amenities in minority residential areas are undertaken through this fund.

Out of the Rs 350 crore allocated for 2017-18, Rs 125 crore has been earmarked for improving the settlements of minorities and providing various basic facilities in rural and urban areas.

Sudhir Mungantiwar, while presenting the budget said that training is being provided to students of minority category to appear for competitive exams like UPSC, MPSC, banking services and others.

  

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Comment on this article

  • SMR, Karkala

    Wed, Mar 22 2017

    Maharashtra debt has 3.5 lakh crores. But BJP-Shiv Sena wanted Rs 3600 crores Shivaji statue in the middle of Arabian sea. Farmers are suiciding due to support price and failed crops and drought.

    The 15th Lok Sabha, with UPA II government, was the crowning glory of the BJP in disruption of the Parliament - at 61 percent, its productive time was the worst in Indian legislative history. During the same period, the record for Rajya Sabha was equally dismal - 66 percent. Compared to 297 bills during the 13th Lok Sabha, when the BJP-led NDA was in power and Congress in opposition, the UPA II could pass only 179 out of its planned 328 bills. Several serious pieces of legislation such as Women’s Reservation Bill, Direct Taxes Code, Micro Finance Bill, Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill and the Bill enabling the introduction of Goods and Services Tax just lapsed. What was more tragic was that 60 per cent of the question time was wasted by the BJP-led acrimony.

    "Not allowing parliament to function is also a form of democracy like any other form," -Sushma Swaraj

    What opposition inherited is BJP's old practice. The opposition parties should also enjoy the right of disruption of house which BJP once practiced. If opposition parties gets suspended then the rule should also apply for the BJP.

    Jai Hind

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • ABDUL RAFIQ, Uchila

    Wed, Mar 22 2017

    Democracy is under threat in India.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sujith Nayak, Kudla / AUH

    Wed, Mar 22 2017

    Welcome move.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: 19 opposition MLAs suspended for 9 months for disrupting Budget session



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