MLAs beat up policeman in Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan building

Published in The Hitavada on March 20, 2013)

MLAs beat up policeman in Vidhan Bhavan building

By Kartik Lokhande

MUMBAI, March 19: Angry over his misbehavior with MLA Kshitij Thakur on Bandra-Worli sea-link, MLAs from different political parties came together and assaulted a Assistant Police Inspector right in front of Leader of Opposition (Council) Vinod Tawde’s office on first floor of Vidhan Bhavan building on Tuesday.

Thakur moved a breach of privilege notice against API Sachin Suryawanshi, after Question Hour in Legislative Assembly. According to Thakur, Suryawanshi had misbehaved with him when he sought to know reasons for which his vehicle was stopped at night on Bandra-Worli sea-link a couple of days back. Thakur claimed to have got video-recording of API’s  misbehaviour in his mobile phone.

Cutting across party lines, MLAs rallied behind Thakur and stormed into well of the House. They raised slogans and demanded stringent action against API Suryawanshi. Sensing mood of the House, Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil adjourned the House for 15 minutes. During adjournment, as MLAs were talking with each other in the House, somebody pointed out that API Suryawanshi was sitting in the gallery. Soon, MLAs rushed outside.

As soon as MLAs and the API came face-to-face in front of Tawde’s office on the first floor of Vidhan Bhavan building, the elected representatives broke loose. They assaulted Suryawanshi and also hurled abuses at him. MLAs Jaykumar Rawal, Ram Kadam, Pradeep Jaiswal and others slapped and thrashed the police officer. The Marshals in Vidhan Bhavan building rushed to the spot and rescued Suryawanshi. The officer was taken to Chief Security Officer Shivajirao Bodkhe’s cabin. Still, MLAs waited in the area near stairs for Suryawanshi to come out.

Later, Speaker called a meeting of Leader of Opposition and group leaders in his chamber. While the meeting was in progress, the 15-minute adjournment was over. Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke occupied the chair and business of the House resumed. Again, as MLAs from Ruling and the Opposition parties thronged the well of the House, Purke adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

Tension prevailed in the premises. When the House resumed, Speaker was in chair. He said that the issue would not be discussed any further as more investigation was needed into it. “Investigation is also needed into the incident that took place outside the House. Let the probe be conducted. Then, I shall pronounce my ruling at an appropriate time,” he said. However, this failed in cooling down tempers of MLAs and Speaker was forced to adjourn the House for 1.15 hours. Interestingly, Suryawanshi was sent on forced leave after discussion on the matter in the Legislative Council a day back.

Again, the House proceedings were adjourned by Deputy Speaker Purke as pandemonium continued. This time, the House was adjourned for two hours.

The assault of API created sensation in the premises. Home Minister R R Patil, Minister of State Satej Patil, Leaders of Opposition Eknath Khadse (Assembly) and Vinod Tawde (Council) met him. Later, he was rescued from Vidhan Bhavan premises on stretcher.

Taking cognizance of the incident, Maharashtra Rajya Rajpatrit Adhikari Mahasangh submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan requesting him to take ‘appropriate’ action against the guilty. “MLAs assaulting police officer is a serious incident,” stated the memorandum, of which a copy was submitted to Chief Secretary Jayant Kumar Banthiya.

Speaker apologises to people, cops

The issue of MLAs beating up a police officer in Vidhan Bhavan building assumed serious proportion in legislative business when Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil, after the MLAs forced five adjournments in the day, apologised to the ‘people of Maharashtra, police officers, and MLAs’ for what had happened.

As soon as the House resumed business, MLAs especially from the Ruling side stuck to aggressive stand again. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil tried to intervene and favoured investigation in the matter. Still, as MLAs were angry, Speaker chose to speak. He condemned the incident and apologised to people of Maharashtra and police officers, and MLAs. “If we are making laws, we need to behave. We should not rush to any conclusion and press for punishment even before someone is held guilty,” he said in strong words. As MLAs continued to express their anger, Speaker said, “I shall take own time to give ruling on the issue. But, let me assure all that nobody will be spared if found guilty after probe,” and resumed further legislative business.

This failed to satisfy MLAs from Ruling side and some of them including Sunil Kedar, Vijay Wadettiwar, Dilip Sananda, Jaykumar Gore and others silently left the House.