Opposition Walks Out In State

Members of left parties yesterday disrupted question hour in the Maharashtra legislative Assembly, protesting against police firing on tribal Marxist activists at Talasari in Thane district in the last week of January this year and later the entire opposition staged a walkout over the issue. The house was adjourned thrice and only three questions could be taken up as the left members kept on shouting slogans and later walked into the well of the house.

The speaker mr dattaji nalawades repeated urgings to mr narasayya adam, mr ramaji warathe (both cpm) and mr nawab malik (sp), to first change their slogan inscribed t-shirts and then to make their submissions, fell on deaf ears.

The members of the main opposition congress, janata dal and independents did not join the protests but the entire opposition staged a walkout demanding judicial enquiry into the firing and resignation of the deputy chief minister mr gopinath munde, who holds the home portfolio, after the question hour was over.

The speaker, who held a meeting of leaders of various groups in his chamber during the adjournment, later ruled that nothing of what protesting members said or did would go on record and proceeded with the scheduled business of the house.

It may be recalled that two tribals had died in police firing when a large mob of cpi-m activists reportedly made a violent attack on the residence of local bjp lok sabha member mr chintaman wanaga, who had wrested the seat from the congress.