Oppn set to corner govt
MUMBAI: After raising their voice over the Maratha Reservation and drought in the state over the past few months, the opposition is all set to corner the government over these issues in the winter session of the state Assembly starting in Mumbai from Monday.
After a gap of 55 years, the winter session of assembly is going to be held in Mumbai. Senior minister Sudhir Mungantiwar may face the heat from their ally Shiv Sena over the killing of tigress Avni in the session.
The Opposition is also likely to raise issues of corruption and law and order situation. Fadnavis has removed the air from the opposition’s balloon by announcing the Maratha reservation from December 1 and announcement of drought in 151 talukas of state. The Opposition will also bring up the issues of reservation for Dhangar and Muslims.
The government recently declared drought in 151 talukas, but the ground work over the rehabilitation and aid to the drought ridden talukas has not been started, which is expected to dominate the two week-long winter session.Another issue expected to generate heat is the killing of tigress Avni.
The tigress, who had allegedly killed 13 people in Yavatmal district’s Pandharkawda area in the last two years, was shot dead by a marksman hired by the State government in a forest in Yavatmal on November 2. The BJP-led government in the state has come under fire over the killing of the tigress who left behind two 10 month-old cubs.
The killing led to an outrage among animal lovers and wildlife organisations which accused the State government of violating norms. The government has set up a four-member committee to probe the killing.
The session will have only nine working days and will end on November 30. A decision on whether proceedings of the House should be held on Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 23 will be decided later.
In these nine days, the government has to discuss nine new bills, including GST amendments, caste validity for contesting gram panchayat polls, and another amendment regarding cooperative housing societies will be tabled in the session.
Apart from these, there are eight pending bills awaiting clearances from either of the two Houses and six ordinances waiting for passage on the floor of both the Houses.
Meanwhile NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding appropriate steps to tackle the drought. “The situation in state is very bad and the government has to manage the water and fodder for the live stock,” Pawar said in the letter.
Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil threatened the government that the Congress will move breach of privilege against chief minister over the State Backward Commission’s report.
The Opposition will also bring up the issues of reservation for Dhangar and Muslims. The government recently declared drought in 151 talukas, but the ground work over the rehabilitation and aid to the talukas has not been started.
