By Quaid Najmi Mumbai 24 Aug : In a tense disturbance and a riot, protesters Shiv Sena MLAs supporting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators were seen arguing, slapping and pushing each other around and engaging in an exchange of fighting, outside of the Maharashtra Legislature building here on Wednesday.
Furious at the ongoing rant by MVA accusing Shinde Group members Shinde Group as ‘gaddars’ (traitors) and “50 khoke” (Rs 50 crore), Shinde Group legislators took on the MVA in the fullest force causing anger in the political world.
A handful of MLAs of Shinde Group accosted the MVA legislators who were chanting anti-government slogans on the fourth day in a row since the Legislature began its monsoon session on Monday, that resulted in fighting between both sides.
In one instance, Shinde Group MLA Dilip Lande and the Nationalist Congress Party’s Amol Mitkari engaged in small fights and fought at one another, even when their respective groups were able to pull them apart and separate them.
The Shinde Group MLAs also hit back with their own slogans, and waving banners in opposition to the Shiv Sena-NCP Congress’ rants, sparking a row in the legislature.
‘(Sachin) Vaze-BMC Khoke Matoshri, Shiv Sena Ok’, ‘Lavasa Koke Baramati Ok’ shouted the Shinde Group MLAs, trying to shout over the MVA legislators.
The news, which is an unprecedented low in politics, occurred just a day after Shinde warned the Opposition that “he could expose the records of those who are targeting Shinde as well as his group” of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs.
The Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar was furious, saying that the CM’s remarks could be considered a ‘threat’ to the Opposition.
The Opposition has been trying to smear the Bharatiya Jyoti Party-backed Shinde government with ridiculous slogans such as “gaddar”, “Rs 50 crores, extremely acceptable” TAV Vati, Chao Guwahati’ (Plates and bowls, go to Guwahati) and ‘ED Jiski Mummy Wo sarkar nikammi’ (the government whose mommy is ED is ineffective).
Both MLA Mahesh Shinde and Mitkari have filed separate complaints against each one with CM Shinde as well as Speaker Rahul Narwekar, asking for an investigation into the incident, which includes examining the CCTV footage even because an female journalist was being pushed around in the fracas.
The Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, NCP State President Jayant Patil, Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari, Congress’ Yashomati Thakur, as well as other leaders of different parties criticized Shinde Group Shinde Group accusing them of trying to “crush the democratic protests” and to silence the Opposition”.
“Our anger over the “50 khoke” has struck an unintentional nerve.
This is why they’ve responded in this way,” said Pawar grimly.
Jayant Patil said the whole nation has witnessed the brutal behavior of the Shinde Group MLAs and the public will not be able to forgive them as Mitkari asked if the Opposition legislators will be ‘finished off’.
Others Shinde Group lawmakers, including Bharat Gogawale and Dilip Lande and Dilip Lande, claimed at them for being “loyal Shiv Sainiks of Balasaheb Thackeray” and will not cease to teach an example to anyone who would dare to challenge them.Mahesh Shinde claimed that the Opposition MVA tried to’smother the peaceful protests of their members.
The MVA’s protests, which were ongoing throughout the day and accompanied by slogan began on August 17 and were widely reported in the media, reportedly alarming the rebel Shiv Sena Group and culminating in the CM losing his sanity in the parliament on Tuesday.
(Quaid Najmi may be reached via [email protected])
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