NCP (SP) leader gets Maharashtra legislature secretariat notice for remarks against council chairman

The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Tuesday issued a notice to NCP SP leader Suryakant More for his alleged objectionable remarks against Council Chairperson Ram Shinde with BJP MLC Pravin Darekar demanding that a motion for breach of privilege be moved against him reported news agency PTIIn the notice More was asked to submit his written explanation over his remarks by December 2The demand for action followed a video of Mores speech given at an NCP SP campaign rally in Jamkhed on Sunday which went viral on social mediaDuring the campaign More launched a scathing attack on Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde calling him the presiding officer of blown fuses and claimed he had fewer powers than a panchayat samiti chief reported PTIMore said the council chairpersons work lasted only 30 days in a year while the remaining days involved parading in redbeacon vehicles He also claimed the chairperson acted like the headmaster of both Houses of the legislature but actually presided over only 70 to 75 members who are like blown bulbs depending on quotabased nominationsIn his purported remarks More criticised the councils functioning saying the chairpersons role was limited to counting votes how many in favour and how many against on bills already framed in the assembly More also mocked Shinde for seeking funds from ministers despite holding a constitutional post reported PTIThe NCP SP leader continued his attack by citing Shindes electoral defeats to NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar alleging that Shinde secured positions only after pleading with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reported PTIAddressing a press conference on the issue BJP MLC Darekar said More insulted the legislative council its members and chairperson Ram Shinde in highly derogatory language His statements have damaged the dignity of the House and therefore breach of privilege action must be taken against himDarekar who raised the issue along with BJP MLC Shrikant Bharatiya said the comments were not only disrespectful but amounted to spreading false and misleading information about the councils functioningHe has tarnished the prestige credibility and autonomy of the House Under Article 194 of the Constitution any act that lowers the dignity of the legislature and affects its functioning constitutes breach of privilege he saidFollowing the complaint the legislature secretariat issued a notice directing More to submit his written explanation by December 2 The notice was issued by Assistant Secretary Sangeeta VidhateAt the BJP press conference Darekar questioned whether Mores remarks also applied to senior leaders from his own political camp who had served in the Upper HouseSharad Pawar was a member of the legislative council between 1993 and 1996 and also Leader of Opposition in 199596 Supriya Sule was a Rajya Sabha MP Uddhav Thackeray Prithviraj Chavan and NCP SP state president Shashikant Shinde are all former or sitting members of the council Does Mores contemptuous language apply to all of them he askedCalling Mores comments an insult to the constitutional institution modelled on the Rajya Sabha Darekar said describing council members as blown bulbs was an attack on the 75year parliamentary legacy of the Indian ConstitutionHe further targeted the Opposition alleging that the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA leaders were playing the victim card after losing public confidenceHe said The MVA leaders have neither the courage nor the enthusiasm to contest elections With as many as 100 councillors elected unopposed due to peoples faith in the BJP the Opposition is shaken and is resorting to baseless allegationsDarekar also pointed out that Rohit Pawar was seen laughing during Mores controversial speechThe BJP leaders said strict action was essential to prevent similar incidents in the future and to uphold the dignity of the legislatureWith inputs from PTI