opposition wants apology from Rane

The Opposition walked out of the legislative council over Revenue Minister Narayan Rane’s demand for prohibition on liquor in the suicide belt of Vidarbha. Rane had written to CM Ashok Chavan, saying alcoholism was one of the reasons driving farmers to suicide, reports Pradip Kumar Maitra.

The Opposition walked out of the legislative council on Thursday over Revenue Minister Narayan Rane’s demand for prohibition on liquor in the suicide belt of Vidarbha. Rane had written to CM Ashok Chavan, saying alcoholism was one of the reasons driving farmers to suicide.

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Shiv Sena member Neelam Gorhe raised a query if the government planned to introduce prohibition in the region’s six suicide-hit districts.

Opposition members insisted on an apology from Rane. Opposition Leader Pandurang Phundkar objected to Rane’s views that in Wardha — where prohibition is already in force — only one per cent of suicides were related to liquor addiction.

Rane said his statements were from studies by government-sponsored organisations.