Both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature were adjourned on Tuesday after the Opposition created a ruckus over police firing in Maval taluk of Pune district in the morning.
A group of farmers from Maval, led by leaders of all parties, staged a protest along the Mumbai-Pune Express Highway against the government's decision to supply water from the Pawna dam to Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune.
Home Minister R.R. Patil told the Assembly that the mob vandalised buses and hurled stones on the police and the people.
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However, Leader of the Opposition Eknath Khadse and others contended that at least two persons, including a woman, Kantabai Thaker, lost their lives and 14 others were injured in the firing.
Seeks explanation
The firing was on even as the House was in session, the Opposition said, demanding an immediate explanation from Mr. Patil.
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Mr. Patil sought an hour to come back with the details.
The House witnessed stormy scenes, with members marching to the well, raising slogans criticising the government for “using force to crush democratic protests.”
They did not heed Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke's pleas for continuing with the proceedings, demanding instead that the House be adjourned till Mr. Patil made a statement.
The Legislative Council, too, was adjourned for the day.
“Firing inevitable”
Mr. Patil later told journalists that the firing was inevitable as the crowd was setting fire to cars and damaging property, apart from holding up traffic. About 20 policemen were injured and two officers, an additional superintendent of police and one police inspector, were in serious condition, he said.
Later, Mr. Khadse told journalists that the farmers' ‘andolan' had been held since 2008, and it had sent many appeals to the government, but nothing was done.
Tuesday's firing, coming as it did after similar incidents in Nagpur and Jalna, was an example of repression, Mr. Khadse said.