State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Harshavardan Patil tabled a
resolution requesting that the suspension be revoked against the Sena
legislators. The resolution was passed unanimously. Sena leader in the Assembly
Subash Desai welcomed the decision.
Even though the suspension issue was closed, the opposition created a
uproar again on Thursday afternoon. They interrupted the proceedings of the
House numerous times causing the speaker to adjourn the Assembly on three
occasions.
The opposition legislators were demanding that the state government’s stand
on the ten lakhs rupees fine imposed on the government by the Supreme Court two
days ago in the Vilasrao Deshmukh case. Deshmukh, the former chief minister and
now the federal minister for industries, was cited for interfering in police
investigations pertaining to illegal money lending case against one Gokuldas
Sananda.
Responding to the opposition demands, Patil said that government had
not yet received the certified copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court in the
issue. “After receipt of the certified copy of judgment, the same would be
examined by the state law and judiciary department officials and after receiving
their opinion, the government would make the statement on the issue,” Patil
stated.
Though chaos prevailed in the Assembly, the government was successful
in passing the Wages and Allowances Amendment Act 2010 proposal that would
increase the salaries of the speakers and deputy speakers of the Assembly and
Council and also of all ministers and legislators.
Meanwhile rumors were rife in the Congress camp in the state, that Deshmukh
would face problems in light of the court’s action, to the extent of even
losing his portfolio at the center.
