The meeting will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday. The Marine Drive police have submitted a report of the case to the committee, which will decide the future course of action
Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan. File Pic
The Maharashtra Assembly's privileges committee is set to meet on Wednesday to discuss last month’s scuffle between supporters of MLAs Jitendra Awhad and Gopichand Padalkar, sources said.
The incident took place on July 17 in the legislature building lobby during the monsoon session, a day after a heated exchange between NCP (SP) MLA Awhad and BJP MLA Padalkar.
Security personnel intervened and stopped the clash between the two groups. The issue was immediately brought to the notice of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, who has ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible.
Following the incident, Awhad, along with senior NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil and Nitin Deshmukh — one of Awhad's supporters involved in the clash — met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan.
Fadnavis termed the incident "wrong and unfortunate".
“As the premises is under the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, I request both to take cognisance of the developments and initiate appropriate action against those responsible,” Fadnavis said.
Meanwhile, several MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) had raised concerns about the increasing number of visitors within the Vidhan Bhavan premises.
Ashish Shelar, a senior minister in the Mahayuti government, while speaking in the legislative assembly, said it is high time to consider restrictions — possibly even a ban — on the use of mobile phones within the premises.
“People rush to take pictures [with leaders] and use mobile cameras. This has become an issue for many, as highlighted by the members. We do not want any restriction or ban, but the situation has reached a point where such measures must be considered,” Shelar said, requesting the Speaker to take appropriate action.
On July 18, the Marine Drive police arrested Sarjerao Baban Takle, a supporter of BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, and Nitin Hindurao Deshmukh, associated with NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad connection with the violent clash that erupted at the entrance of Vidhan Bhavan during the Maharashtra Monsoon Assembly Session.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar had referred the case to the assembly privileges committee.
Its meeting will take place at 2 pm on Wednesday, according to the PTI sources.
The Marine Drive police have submitted a report of the case to the committee, which will decide the future course of action, the sources said.
(With PTI inputs)
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