12 BJP MLAs suspended from Maharashtra Assy for 1 year

Mumbai: Amid ruckus, 12 BJP MLAs were suspended from the Maharashtra Assembly for one year over their unruly behaviour in the House on Monday.

The Opposition has, in turn, accused Maharashtra Speaker in-chair Bhaskar Jadhav of abusing some of the leaders during the ongoing Assembly session.

State’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab presented the resolution to suspend MLAs and the House passed it on majority vote. The BJP, while boycotting the proceedings, termed it an act to suppress its voice and an attempt to bring down the number of the opposition.

The 12 MLAs-- Dr Sanjay Kute, Ashish Shelar, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkhalkar, Harish Pimple, Jaikumar Rawal, Yogesh Sagar, Narayan Kuche, Bunty Bhangdiya, Parag Alvani and Ram Satpute-- will be barred from entering the legislative premise for next 12 months.

Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, who was allegedly present during the ruckus which took place in a cabin, insisted that these are "false allegations".

"These are false allegations. A story is being created... no one from the BJP abused," Mr Fadnavis told the media. "For OBC reservations, we are ready to sacrifice more than 12 MLAs," he added, referring to one of the key issues that his party is set to highlight during this session.

The Opposition had created uproar in the House over the OBC issue today and alleged that Speaker-in-Chair Bhaskar Jadhav did not give them enough time to speak.The matter escalated after the House was adjourned.

MP Danve slams Maha Govt over suspension of 12 BJP MLAs

Union Minister and Jalna BJP MP Raosaheb Danve on Monday strongly criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for suspending 12 BJP MLAs for a year to cover up their failures.

In a way, the government has strangled democracy in the state and it is very wrong that the state government has suspended BJP MLAs on false charges for exposing the government on the issue of OBCs (other backward class) reservation in local bodies and the Maratha reservation, he said in a press statement here.

"While we are struggling to bring justice to the OBC community, it is wrong to take such action against BJP MLAs. No matter how many such actions are taken, the BJP's struggle will continue till the OBC community gets justice," he said.

The suspension of 12 BJP MLAs is part of a planned plot and no insult was done to the presiding officer by these legislators, Mr Danve claimed and said the state government feels that if the number of opponents is reduced, then they will face less criticism.

BJP MLAs have been deliberately suspended for asking questions to the government on the issues of OBC, Maratha, farmers and MPSC recruitment during the Assembly session, he pointed.The state government has completely failed on OBC and Maratha reservation, the BJP MP charged.

The committee, set up by the (Uddhav) Thackeray-led government, has suggested that setting up a backward class commission is the only option, he added.(UNI)