Maha House adjourned as MLAs demand suspension of crime branch cops

Members demand strict action against police officers for coming to Vidhan Bhawan unauthorisedly to arrest MLAs

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was stalled for the second consecutive day today with members across party lines demanding that the two police officers who came to Vidhan Bhawan on Wednesday to arrest the MLAs, accused of thrashing a policeman, be suspended immediately.

The House had to be adjourned twice for an hour each over the issue. It was later adjourned for the day.

As soon as the House assembled for the day at 11 AM, Girish Bapat (BJP) demanded that the government make the announcement of suspension of the two crime branch officers immediately.

"Announcement of suspension of one of the officers was made in the Legislative Council yesterday. Why was it not made in the Lower House?" he asked.

Bapat also said the CCTV footage of the beating up of the policeman, traffic police sub-inspector Sachin Suryavanshi, be rechecked and if the MLAs are not seen doing what they have been accused of, the decision of their suspension be re-considered.

All members were on their feet demanding strict action against the police officers for coming to Vidhan Bhawan unauthorisedly to arrest the MLAs.

Speaker Dilip Walse Patil appealed to the members to allow the question hour after which the matter could be discussed.

However, the members said they were in "no mood to allow the proceedings."

Following this, the House was adjourned for an hour. Later, Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke appealed to the members to take their seats. But, they continued to be adamant on their demand and came to the well shouting slogans demanding immediate suspension of the two crime branch officers.

Purke then adjourned the House for another one hour.