Pawar clears air over suspension of MLAs

Deputy chief minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday “distanced” himself from the controversy over suspension of five Shiv Sena and four Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs, saying it was the decision of the House.

Deputy chief minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday “distanced” himself from the controversy over suspension of five Shiv Sena and four Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs, saying it was the decision of the House.

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“It was a decision of the state Assembly to suspend them following uproar and disruption during presentation of the budget,” Pawar said in a press conference.

Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said since the House decided to suspend the MLAs only it can review it.

Speaker Dilip Walse Patil on Thursday had suspended nine MLAs from the Opposition for disrupting the budget presentation by Pawar the earlier

day.

Meanwhile, the speaker is likely to hold a meeting of group leaders of the Opposition parties on Monday to review, if required, the decision of suspension.

Pawar said the Opposition members had enough opportunity to raise certain issues since March 14 when the session began but they chose the time of budget presentation when people of entire state were keen to know about the budget proposals.

“It looked like they had made elaborate preparations and brought banners and placards, one against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. What does she have to do with state assembly? he asked.

Pawar added that he would take up the issue with chief minister for additional funds of Rs 250 crore needed for upcoming Cargo Hub project in Nagpur. A provision of Rs 69 crore has been made in the budget for year 2011-12 for the project.