Mumbai: A
belligerent opposition Monday mounted pressure on the government
to table in the assembly the official auditor's report on
controversial land allotments in Maharashtra.
The opposition created ruckus in the assembly, accusing the
government of delaying the Comptroller and Auditor General's (CAG)
report.
The opposition lawmakers, led by Bharatiya Janata Party's Sudhir
Mungantiwar, also demanded revoking the suspension of 14
legislators and forced adjournment of the house that led to
cancellation of the question hour.
The government last week promised that it will table the report
Monday,
Attempting to pacify the legislators, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit
Pawar said the report had been forwarded to Governor K.
Sankaranarayanan.
"He (Sankaranarayanan) was away from the city and returned this
morning. He will sign (the report) and send it back to the
government and we shall table it tomorrow (Tuesday)," Pawar said.
Industry Minister Narayan Rane said there was no question of
delaying the report. Tourism Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the
government had sought opinion from the state advocate-general on
it.
Several Opposition members also wanted to know why the state
cabinet should first see the report when it had to be presented
through the governor.
To this, Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil pointed out that there was
nothing wrong as the governor functions on the advice of the
council of ministers.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshawardhan Patil said there were
technical issues due to which the report could not be tabled.
However, on the issue of revoking suspension of 14 opposition
legislators, the government avoided making any commitment.
The speaker ruled that this matter has to be jointly decided by
the ruling and opposition members since the suspensions were done
through a resolution brought in the house.
"Another resolution would have to be brought before the house,"
Walse-Patil said, and assured that he would bring both sides to
the discussion table on revoking the suspension of the opposition
legislators.
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