Nagpur, May 09: Opposition leader in Maharashtra Legislative Council Nitin Gadkari today demanded convening of a fresh assembly session to take up the appropriation bill, which was sent by the Upper House with recommendations and accepted by voice vote at a special session of the assembly yesterday. The Upper House on April 10 had passed a recommendation for provision of Rs 2,751 crore being made in the financial statement for 2003-04 for irrigation sector of backward regions of the state but since the Lower House had been prorogued by then, the special session was convened.

"The entire proceedings of yesterday's day-long assembly session was null and void and unconstitutional since the speaker had changed the original wordings of recommendations of the upper house. It was unjust and he had no propriety to do so," Gadkari alleged at a press conference here.

"It is a breach of privilege of Upper House since the chairman of the legislative council had forwarded it to the assembly speaker and the latter had no business to tamper with the wordings," he said adding, "We are soliciting legal advice to seek relief from the court of law."

The opposition will shortly meet the state governor to apprise him of the happenings on the floor of the house. Opposition will launch an awareness campaign in the state to inform people about the evil design of Congress-NCP government for not making provision for irrigation projects.


Gadkari regretted that DF ministers representing Vidarbha too were on the forefront to shoot down opposition demand on the bill in the house yesterday.
Bureau Report