Maharashtra Assembly Speaker faces no-confidence motion

The Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday moved a no-confidence motion against Speaker Haribhau Bagde for not allowing a debate on an alleged rape and murder of a 15-year girl at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district.

The signatories of the motion included leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, former speaker Dilip Walse Patil, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, former finance minister Jayant Patil and 24 others.

The Opposition is expected to demand a discussion on Tuesday. The motion is expected to be taken up in 14 days. It needs the support of 29 members of the Assembly.

Vikhe Patil and Pawar alleged that Bagde, who is a BJP veteran from the Marathwada region, did not allow the Opposition parties to speak on the incident. They alleged the government was insensitive and not serious in curbing rapes in the state.

According to Pawar, the Opposition had moved an adjournment motion and expected a ruling from the Speaker on whether or not it has been accepted. However, the Speaker allowed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make a statement on the issue.

Pawar, however, said Bagde completed Monday's proceedings and adjourned the House without taking their motion on discussion on the brutal incident. This is despite the chief minister agreeing to their demand to hold a discussion on the sensitive issue on Monday itself.

Earlier, the three-week monsoon session started with the Congress-NCP Opposition raking up the rape incident, castigating the Fadnavis government for its failure to maintain law and order and the inordinate delay to book the culprits. The Opposition strongly demanded the resignation of Fadnavis, who is also home minister, on moral grounds.

However, Fadnavis informed the House that the accused in the heinous crime have been arrested and the case would be heard in a fast-track court. Ujjawal Nikam has been appointed as the public prosecutor.

The issue also figured in the Legislative Council. The Upper House agreed to a short-duration debate on the issue on Tuesday after the matter led to a 10-minute adjournment of the proceedings.