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  Diwakar Raote, pro-Vidarbha BJP leaders clash in House

Diwakar Raote, pro-Vidarbha BJP leaders clash in House

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Jul 30, 2016, 5:52 am IST
Updated : Jul 30, 2016, 5:52 am IST

Shiv Sena leader and state transport minister Diwakar Raote on Friday almost came to blows with BJP MLAs when the latter raised pro-Vidarbha slogans in the Legislative Assembly.

Diwakar Raote
 Diwakar Raote

Shiv Sena leader and state transport minister Diwakar Raote on Friday almost came to blows with BJP MLAs when the latter raised pro-Vidarbha slogans in the Legislative Assembly. Both the Houses were adjourned after the pandemonium over the private member proposal moved by BJP MP Nana Patole in Lok Sabha demanding a separate Vidarbha. During one of the adjournments in the Assembly, some of the BJP members raised pro-Vidarbha slogans that provoked Mr Raote. Later, the pro and anti-Vidarbha groups engaged in sloganeering on the Vidhan Bhavan premises.

During the adjournment motion, MLAs from Vidarbha had gathered at the Well near the Speaker when Mr Raote requested them not to raise such slogans in the Assembly. But the MLAs were in no mood to heed Mr Raote’s request and both had a face-off, almost coming to blows. BJP MLA Ramchandra Avsare from Bhandara and Charansingh Waghmare from Tumsar in Vidarbha had a heated exchange. Finally, water resources minister Girish Mahajan had to intervene and asked the BJP MLAs and Mr Raote to cool down.

Tension ensued in the Assembly as Shiv Sena MLAs did not appreciate the treatment meted out to their leader Mr Raote. Other members asked the BJP MLAs to go to their seats.

However, the matter did not end in the House. The Shiv Sena condemned the BJP’s demand for a separate Vidarbha and asked pro-Vidarbha MLAs to resign and go back. The Speaker had to adjourn the House for the day after the pandemonium.

After the adjournment, pro-Vidarbha MLAs of the BJP gathered in the premises of the Assembly building where the media was stationed and protested for a separate state. However, no senior leader of the BJP supported the cause.

Even some BJP MLAs from western Vidarbha like Buldhana, Akola, Washim, Yavatmal did not support the cause.

A BJP MLA from the western Vidarbha, on condition of anonymity, said that the demand for a separate state was more from eastern Vidarbha. Shiv Sena MLAs immediately came from behind, formed another group and started shouting slogans for a united Maharashtra. The drama went on for a few minutes.

Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde, while speaking to the media, said, “We will not compromise on united Maharashtra. We are very firm on our stand and it will not change.”

Congress and NCP leaders from the Legislative Council Narayan Rane, Dhananjay Munde, Vidya Chavan also shouted slogans for a united Maharashtra and registered their protest against the BJP’s demand.