Cong, NCP stall proceedings of Maha Legislature

Both Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature were adjourned for the third consecutive day today with opposition Congress and NCP disrupting the proceedings demanding an assurance from the BJP government on complete loan waiver for farmers hit by drought-like situation.
In the Assembly, members of both the parties trooped into the well of the House as soon as it assembled for the day's sitting and created a din over "growing number of suicides" by farmers, and sought a complete loan waiver.
Leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Congress) raised the issue and requested Speaker Haribhau Bagde to suspend the Question Hour and announce a financial package for farmers affected by drought-like situation.

He was supported by senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar who turned down the request made by treasury benches to allow the Question Hour to function as the same could not be conducted since last two days due to protests.
Pawar demanded that either Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis or Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse, both of whom were present in the House, announce the package for farmers.
Khadse's assurance that government was ready for a thorough debate on the issue failed to pacify the opposition members who continued with protests, following which Speaker first adjourned the House for 10 minutes and later till the end of Question Hour as opposition members stayed put in the well.

After the Question Hour, Panel Speaker Yogesh Sagar, who was in chair, adjourned the House for the day as uproar continued.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Council where Opposition Leader Dhananjay Munde (NCP) sought a discussion on the issue of farmer suicides and drought situation.
He also demanded that the government immediately announce a relief package for drought-hit farmers.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said these issues could be discussed after the Question Hour.
When Council Deputy Chairman Vasantrao Dawkhare announced the Question Hour, the opposition members rushed to the well of the House and started shouting slogans like "give justice to farmers".

Munde was supported by Congress' Manikrao Thakre.
Other opposition members also continued to raise slogans, following which the House was adjourned for 10 minutes, and later for another 15 minutes as the pandemonium continued.
The opposition legislators refused to relent when the House reassembled for the third time and rushed to the well, with some of them throwing paper sheets in the air, following which the House was adjourned for the day.