The arrest of senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal had its reverberations in the state Legislative Council in Tuesday as well with the House being adjourned for as many as three times before being closed for the entire day.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Bhujbal Monday evening on charges of money laundering in the Maharashtra Sadan case. As soon as the council started, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde from the NCP through an adjournment motion demanded an immediate discussion on the Bhujbal arrest issue. However, Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, chairman of the Legislative Council, said that he would decide on the adjournment motion once the question hour was over.
Irked, Opposition members started raising slogans against the government. Amidst the uproar, Mr Naik-Nimbalkar first adjourned the House for half an hour. As the pandemonium continued, the house was adjourned twice — 20 and 10 minutes.
Mr Munde said, “Mr Bhujbal has been a leader of this House and was also a deputy CM of the state. He has been active in state politics for last 25 years. By arresting a leader of his stature, the state government is trying to suppress the opposition parties.”
To protest the arrest, NCP members had entered the House wearing a black band on their arms. Even Congress members strongly supported the protests as they were seen on forefront to halt the proceedings. With the Opposition members continuing their protests, Vasant Davkhare —deputy chairman — said that the House could not continue in such circumstances and adjourned the council for the entire day.
