Maharashtra Assembly session: Shiv Sena MLA makes gestures, ‘mocks’ PM Modi, apologises later

BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday accused Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav of mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Legislative Assembly and making certain gestures evoking sharp reactions from the Opposition MLAs leading to stalling of the proceedingsJadhav later apologised when the House reconvened after two adjournments saying that making hand gestures was his natural way of speaking and that he didnt use any unparliamentary word against the prime ministerJadhav made the remarks as alleged by Fadnavis when a discussion on a calling attention notice on power issues was underwaySpeaking in the Lower House BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar sought to know why state power minister Nitin Raut has backtracked on his promise to waive electricity tariff of customers up to 100 unitsRaut recalled that he had only said that waiving of the tariff would be considered However as the power department provided uninterrupted supply to customers during the lockdown period the tariff for the same has to be paidThe power minister said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made certain promises to farmers but hasnt fulfilled themAt this point Jadhav allegedly mimicked Narendra Modi which he later said was made by Modi as a prime ministerial candidate in 2014Taking strong objection Fadnavis said Jadhavs comments and gestures about the prime minister will not be toleratedBJP MLAs joined Fadnavis and said Jadhav had insulted the prime ministerBJP MLAs rose to their feet and demanded an apology from JadhavDeputy Speaker Narhari Zhirwal said he would examine whether Jadhav made any unparliamentary remark and decide accordinglyWater Resources Minister Jayant Patil NCP and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab Shiv Sena said that leaders of all parties should be respected in the legislatureJadhav said he didnt make any comment against the PMI spoke only about what Narendra Modi had said in 2014 when he was the prime ministerial candidate of BJP the MLA said and added that he was withdrawing his comments and gesturesFadnavis alleged that Jadhav was taking the issue lightlyHow can one withdraw the objectionable gestures Fadnavis asked and demanded an apology from JadhavAs the ruckus continued the Chair adjourned the proceedings for 20 minutesThe House adjourned again for 15 minutes as BJP members kept shouting slogans demanding an apology from JadhavWhen the Assembly reconvened after the second adjournment BJP members were again on their feet demanding that Jadhav be suspended from the HouseAs protests continued Jadhav said he had not made any unparliamentary comments against the PMMy way of talking is such that I inadvertently make hand gestures If my body language has hurt the members of the House I tender an apology he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever