Bhujbal in trouble over donation

For the second consecutive day in Maharashtra assembly, opposition parties targeted public works department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal over Rs 2.5 crore donation accepted by his family-run foundation from infrastructure major Indiabulls.

For the second consecutive day in Maharashtra assembly, opposition parties targeted public works department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal over Rs 2.5 crore donation accepted by his family-run foundation from infrastructure major Indiabulls.

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Refusing to accept the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader's explanation that the donation to Bhujbal Foundation was for the annual Nashik Festival and not a "single paisa was used by the Bhujbal family from the donation," the opposition staged a walkout.

Two Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) members, Prakash Bhoir and Nitin Bhonsale, raised a banner against Bhujbal and demanded his resignation.

Bhoir and Bhonsale alleged Bhujbal's act was similar to what former chief minister AR Antulay had done while collecting donations in the name of Indira Gandhi Pratibha Pratishthan. Antulay had to resign in 1982 following the controversy.

MNS leader in the House Bala Nandgaonkar said the then opposition leader Sharad Pawar (now the NCP chief) had exposed Antulay. He said Pawar should now apply the same yardstick and ask Bhujbal to resign on moral grounds. As the opposition mounted pressure on the government, the Speaker suspended the two MNS members and adjourned the house.