The Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned today amid a demand by members demanding termination of Independent MLC Prashant Paricharak's membership over his remarks on wives of soldiers.
On the second consecutive day, the members cutting across party lines closed ranks against the BJP-backed MLC whose remarks had kicked up a huge row last month.
Raising the issue, the Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde said around 3000 family members of soldiers protested against Paricharak's comments this morning itself.
"Until his membership is permanently terminated, we cannot let the House function, because if we do, a wrong message will be sent. When soldiers go out to protect nation, it is the responsibility of the government as well as citizens to safeguard their families," Munde said.
A strong message should be sent across so that nobody can pass lewd remarks on soldiers and get away with it, he demanded.
Participating in the debate, Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe said the state government should have taken cognisance of the issue and taken action against Paricharak.
"What would the government have done if somebody else had made the remarks? Had somebody from Pakistan had said this, we would have said we will teach them a lesson. If a lesson is not given to him (the MLC) now and he is not terminated (as a member), people may say we are hypocritic," she said.
Citing a "past precedent in Parliament", the Congress leader Sharad Ranpise said there are rules under which strong action can be taken against Paricharak.
Intervening in the issue, the Leader of the House and Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil said the incident was condemnable.
"We do not support him at all. We have to sit together and take a decision on the issue. However, a message that the government is being persuaded to take action against him (Paricharak) should not go out," Patil said.
The Congress leader Narayan Rane then said there was no need for a discussion and that immediate action should be taken against the MLC.
Ashok alias Bhai Jagtap (Congress) said it was a "transparent crime against the country and against those protecting the nation."
The Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar said irrespective of the party to which Paricharak belongs, ethics should be upheld.
"This is a very serious issue because it concerns those who shed blood for us. We all are comfortably sitting in ACs today only because of our soldiers," Nimbalkar said, adding that the issue needed to be considered seriously.
"It seems that a meeting with the CM cannot be held today over the issue, but I do not see any opposition from the ruling party as well (on taking action against Paricharak). The CM should give time for the issue and come to a conclusion. The House stands adjourned till tomorrow," the Chair ordered.
Addressing a rally in Solapur in run-up to the local bodies elections last month, Paricharak had said, "A soldier gets a telegram from his wife that she has delivered a baby and he distributes sweets to his colleagues on the border, though he has not visited him home for a whole year.
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