Raising the issue of loan waiver for farmers, the Congress and NCP today boycotted Maharashtra Assembly proceedings and accused the Fadnavis government of adopting "Gujarat model" of governance while conducting the proceedings and passing the important Right to Services Bill by overlooking the Opposition.
The Right to Services Bill was passed today in the House in the absence of the Congress and NCP members.
As soon as the House assembled for the day and Speaker Haribhau Bagde called for the Question Hour, the Congress and NCP were on their feet demanding loan waiver for farmers who have been facing severe crop loss due to repeated drought, hailstorm and unseasonal rains.
They stormed into the Well of the House and raised anti-government slogans.
Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse told the Opposition members that the government was willing to debate the issue and a discussion under rule 293 was listed on the agenda.
The Speaker said he was willing to hear the Opposition side after the Question Hour.
However, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said there was no point in discussions when Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had declared that he will not accept the Opposition's demand for loan waiver.
The CPM, MNS, Samajwadi party and PWP did not join the boycott.
"Farmers' suicides are on the rise and ever since this government came to power, about 8 to 10 farmers end their lives daily," Vikhe Patil claimed.
However, Khadse accused the Opposition of indulging in politics and running away from debate on serious issues.
Vikhe Patil, who led the Opposition members to stage a walkout in protest, said they were boycotting the proceedings due to the government's "apathetic" attitude towards farmers' problems.
The Opposition members squatted on the ground floor of the Vidhan Bhavan building and held mock proceedings of the Legislative Assembly in protest against what they called "government muzzling opposition voice."
In a bid to divide the ruling BJP and Sena combine, the Opposition members raised slogans like "Yeh andar ki baat hai...Uddhav hamare saath hai."
Meanwhile, the Speaker conducted the Question Hour, took up Calling Attention notices and held discussion on the Right to Services Bill which was passed in the Opposition's absence.
Former Assembly Speaker and NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil described the government's move as anti-democratic.
"It is unfortunate that the government conducts the proceedings disregarding the Opposition. It looks like the government does not want to engage the opposition into dialogue. This is the Gujarat model being implemented in the state," he alleged.
