Mumbai: The State government on Wednesday bowed to the opposition pressure after agreeing to setting up a seven-member committee to look into the derogatory statements made by MLC Prashant Paricharak against wives of Army men.
The budget session of the Council was disrupted and later adjourned for the third consecutive day over demands of action against Mr. Paricharak. The opposition had on Monday and Tuesday sought suspension of Mr. Paricharak, but on Wednesday demanded his resignation. The House barely functioned for 30 minutes before Chairman Ram Raje Nimbalkar adjourned the proceedings.
Mr. Paricharak had, during a rally at Pandharpur last month, said, “Soldiers distribute sweets at the Punjab border after having babies when they had not come home for a year.”
Earlier in the day, opposition members walked into the well and raised slogans. At this point, the House was adjourned. The House then resumed to further protest, and the Chairman suspended the proceedings for the day after Leader of the House Chandrakant Patil announced formation of the committee.
When the opposition insisted on an immediate expulsion of the MLC, Mr. Patil said it will not be fair to arrive at a decision before even giving a hearing to the MLC and other witnesses. “The committee will not spare any effort in reaching a conclusion before the session ends.”
The opposition has been alleging that the party to which Mr. Paricharak belongs is trying to shield the MLC. Senior Congress leader Narayan Rane had hinted that the MLC belongs to the BJP, which is washing their hands off him. “This issue could have easily been dealt with by the party of the MLC outside the House. There was no need to even allow this issue to come to the House if the party had taken action against the MLC.”
