BJP, Sena MLAs clash in Maharashtra Assembly over aid to farmers; House adjourned for the day

Nagpur: In unprecedented scenes, two MLAs of the ruling Shiv Sena and Opposition BJP held each other by the collar over the issue of assistance to farmers. [caption id=“attachment_7794151” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis. ANI[/caption] Soon after proceedings began, BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar tried to display a banner in front of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The banner carried a report published in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, about Thackeray demanding Rs 25,000 per hectare for farmers hit by untimely rains. The BJP MLAs sought to remind Thackeray of this demand made by him before he became the chief minister of providing assistance to affected farmers. The BJP members rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogans, seeking implementation of Thackeray’s previous demand. Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad tried to snatch the banner from Pawar and the two briefly held each other by the collar before senior ministers and former ministers pulled them apart. Speaker Nana Patole appealed to BJP members to return to their seats and allow the House proceedings to continue. However, some Sena MLAs also tried to snatch the flex boards from BJP members, leading to ruckus. As the BJP members refused to return to their seats, the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes. When the House reassembled, the noisy protests continued. The Speaker cleared a couple of bills amid the ruckus and then adjourned the House for the day. The Legislative Council also witnessed noisy scenes as BJP members demanded compensation for farmers affected by unseasonal rains. The House was also adjourned for the day as the ruckus continued.