Mumbai, Mar 11: Leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Narayan Rane today levelled a sensational charge against deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who offered to resign if the allegation was proved correct, causing a stir that led to adjournment of the house. Participating in the discussion on a motion thanking the governor for his joint address to the state legislature, Rane made a sensational charge against Bhujbal, who also holds the home portfolio. The charge was, however, expunged by the speaker Arun Gujrathi later.
Bhujbal, who was not present when the charge was levelled, made a hasty entry in the house and demanded that the charge be expunged from the proceedings since the opposition leader had not given him prior notice. He was supported by water supply and sanitation minister R R Patil. However, Rane stuck to his guns and Bhujbal in a retaliatory action offered to resign. The entire Sena-BJP members began to protest and resorted to sloganeering forcing the chair to adjourn the house for 15-minutes.
Later, when the house re-assembled, Rane continued to repeat the allegation saying he was providing mere information about the performance of the home department. Bhujbal said Rane was levelling "baseless" charges as he was upset with the attack on his residence in Kankavli in Konkan.
But Rane said "that any person levelling a charge against the home minister will think over 100 times".
The speaker, however, expunged Rane's remarks.
Bureau Report