Ruckus in Maharashtra assembly against CM Shinde over alleged Nagpur land scam

The Opposition alleged that chief minister Eknath Shinde had allocated land meant for slums to private individuals when he was urban development minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government

Both the houses of Maharashtra assembly was stalled by Opposition legislators over chief minister Eknath Shinde allegedly allocating land meant for slums to private individuals when he was urban development minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Opposition members created a ruckus in both the Houses of Maharashtra assembly demanding chief minister Eknath Shinde’s resignation. (ANI)

On Tuesday, Uddhav Thackeray led the meeting of Opposition leaders, after which they created a ruckus in the two Houses demanding Shinde’s resignation over ‘illegally’ allocating over 4.5 acre of land in Nagpur meant for slum dwellers to 16 private individuals despite the matter being sub-judice.

Legislative council deputy chairperson, Neelam Gorhe adjourned the council twice during Question Hour as the Opposition members from the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) repeatedly walked into the well shouting anti-government slogans while the ruling party was equally noisy condemning the opposition’s unruly protest.

As soon as the house assembled for the day, leader of the Opposition, Ambadas Danve raised the issue through a point of information and alleged that the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had passed remarks against the government and the then Urban Development minister Shinde.

According to the Opposition leader, in April 2021, Shinde allegedly allocated the land to 16 builders at a throwaway price. Shinde passed the orders despite a case related to the land being pending before the court. The NIT got less than ₹2 crore for land that is worth over ₹83 crore. He also pointed out that the high court had appointed its amicus, Anand Parchure, in this regard. The learned amicus said in his report that there was a possibility of the state government making interference in the administration when the issue was pending before the court.

Danve said that in view of the high court observation and remarks, chief minister Shinde has no moral right to continue and should resign immediately. Later, the entire opposition, insisting on their demand, trooped to the well and shouted anti-government slogans demanding resignation from the chief minister in view of the high court remarks.

When the senior members of ruling party, particularly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Chandrakantdada Patil raised objection for allowing the issue before the Question Hour, the House witnessed uproarious scenes and Opposition members insisting on their demand trooped to the well and shouted anti-government slogans demanding resignation from the chief minister led to the adjournment of the house for 15 minutes.

When the House again reassembled, NCP member Eknath Khadse and senior Sena member Anil Parab said that the entire episode was contempt of the court and the high court made remarks against the government and the then UD minister Shinde and hence the chief minister should resign immediately.

As members from both the benches were shouting slogans and the Opposition ruckus continued, deputy chairperson Gorhe again adjourned the house for 15 minutes.

Defending the chief minister, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleged that the Opposition tried to mislead the House as the high court neither made any remarks against the government nor against Shinde. He even read out the court verdict and claimed that the court has only directed not to take action in the land till the next hearing, to be held on January 4.

He said that in the capacity of UD minister Shinde had implemented a GR, issued by then chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2007 to legalise the unauthorised layouts under Guntewari scheme.

However, the Opposition was not ready to listen to the reply and they shouted slogans and insisting on the resignation of the chief minister. Amid the Opposition uproar, neither the Question Hour nor Zero Hour could run as per schedule and the House was adjourned for the day.