Nagpur: The Assembly was adjourned again for 15 minutes at 1.15 pm as not a single minister was present in the House during discussion on supplementary demands. When the House assembled at 1.30 pm, NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal, initiating the debate, said that the works of Opposition MLAs have not been included in the supplementary budget. Such incidents had occurred earlier also but were amended. Congress member Prithviraj Chavan said that when such follies occurred the then Speaker had taken positive measures by calling a meeting of opposition parties in his chamber.
In his reply, the Chief Minister said that no discrimination will be done against the Opposition members. Any shortcomings will be removed. When we were in opposition, we had squatted in the well of the House for three days but still the Ruling Party had not allotted any room. When Sushilkumar Shinde was CM, the opposition MLAs from Mumbai were given funds only after High Court intervened in the matter. But this Government will provide the fixed funds to opposition MLAs. When the Opposition was in power, we were indiscriminated and no measures were initiated to remove it, stated Fadnavis.
Bhujbal said that after HC directives, the Opposition MLAs were provided with funds every year. Records can be perused. If my words are found incorrect, I will resign, dared Bhujbal. The Chief Minister immediately retorted that not a single penny was given to them.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Haribhau Bagde directed the BJP member Raj Purohit to call the absent ministers to the House. But the Opposition uproar continued forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House the third time for 10 minutes at 1.50 pm. However, when the House assembled at 2 pm, the absence of PWD Minister again generated heat as the matter was raised by Vijay Wadettiwar. Finally, the Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse came to the House but left it within five minutes. This prompted Bhujbal to advice Wadettiwar to continue his speech otherwise the remaining ministers would also vanish.
