Peeved over the absence of some ministers concerned when crucial issues were being discussed in the House, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke today said such leaders should be penalised by being handed suspensions - even if for a day.
Purke openly aired his dissatisfaction with the truant ministers after Calling Attention notices on subjects pertaining to Mumbai and Vidarbha had to be postponed owing to their absence from the House.
While BJP legislator Devendra Fadanvis raised the issue of ministerial absences, leading to the discussions on the Calling Attention notices being postponed to next week, state Industry Minister Narayan Rane sought to apologise on behalf of his missing Cabinet colleagues.
Purke said: "I don't know what the rules say, but it is my view that ministers who remain absent when important issues are being discussed in the House should be suspended, even if for a day."
Several BJP, Congress and NCP legislators had raised the issue of Vidarbha facing floods due to heavy rain and farmers staring at losses through a Calling-Attention notice.
But when that came up for discussion, the ministers concerned were not present in the House. The irked members sought adjournment of the House, and the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
Earlier, leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse pointed out that even Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who today left for Pandharpur for Ekadashi tomorrow, was not in the House to discuss important issues like building collapse incidents in Mumbai and adjoining areas.
"It is inappropriate if there is no minister to continue discussions and we have to adjourn the House (as a result).
"If legislators were suspended for being aggressive on an issue related to common man, then ministers could also be suspended for ignoring important issues," Purke said.
