Mumbai: The Winter Session of the legislature started with an uproar over the demand for immediate compensation for drought and reservation to various communities. Opposition members sat on the steps of the House on the very first day. The government said that it is prepared for a debate on these issues. Both Houses of the legislature were adjourned after paying tribute to deceased members and other leaders.

Opposition leaders including Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Dhananjay Munde, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and others sat on steps, demanding immediate compensation to farmers facing drought. They sought Rs 1 lakh for horticulture and Rs 50,000 per hectare for other crops in compensation.

This Winter Session will have only nine business days. The Opposition, citing the serious drought and issues such as Maratha reservation, demanded an extension of the session by a week at least. A delegation of all Opposition leaders met governor C. Vidyasagar Rao demanding an extension of the session.

On the first day, Monday, no business was carried out in the Assembly as well as the Council. The Houses paid tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Opposition Leader of Council Madhavrao Gaikwad and others.

Talking to reporters, Mr Vikhe-Patil said there are several pressing issues that need to be discussed in the legislature and eight days is too a brief period for deliberations on them in both Houses. Congress leader Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan said the government has tabled supplementary demands to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore and these demands need to be discussed threadbare.

“We told the governor that various issues related to reservations, farmers and drought also need to be discussed in the legislature to provide relief to the citizens. “Eight days’ time is too little for highlighting the pressing issues on the floor of the legislature. The duration of the session should be extended by at least two weeks,” Mr Khan said.