Mah Council Chairman asks CM to make statement on BJYM row

Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar today directed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make a statement in the House on Friday over a woman party worker's allegation of molestation against former Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha Mumbai president Ganesh Pandey.
Nimbalkar issued the directive during a debate after Dipti Chaudhari of Congress tried to move an adjournment motion on the issue.
The Council Chairman said though he cannot direct government to register case in the matter, he instructed the government to direct senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla to record on camera the victim's statement.
Later, not satisfied with the ruling Congress, NCP women legislators raised slogans demanding Pandey's arrest or else they would not allow the House transact any further business.

As the uproar continued the Chair adjourned the proceedings three times.
Trying to move the motion, an angry Chaudhari remarked that although Pandey was sacked there was no case registered against him despite his using the "most vulgar" language against fellow woman colleagues.

"We want to know why First Information Report (FIR) is still not registered against Pandey," Chaudhari questioned.
Taking part in the debate, senior Shiv Sena member Neelam Gorhe said the police should on its own record on camera the statement of the victim.
Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde lashed out at the government alleging that when NCP womens' wing cadres went to submit a memorandum to Bandra police station they were insulted and sent back.

The woman, a member of BJP's youth wing had complained to the party's city unit chief Ashish Shelar that Pandey had allegedly molested her by asking her obscene questions and passing lewd remarks.
Earlier, Pandey dismissed the allegations as part of a
"political conspiracy" against him and asked why it took 18 days for the woman to file a complaint.
However, Sena President Uddhav Thackeray today said Pandey should be seen as a "social criminal" and action taken against him.
"My stand on the issue is very clear. Whichever party the person (Pandey) belongs to, he should be seen as a social criminal and without considering his political affiliation, action should be taken against him," Thackeray told reporters here.

"It does not matter if he belongs to this party or that party. There cannot be any leniency shown towards him and he cannot be forgiven for his crime. Appropriate action should be taken against him," he added.