MUMBAI: Cutting across party lines, members in Maharashtra Legislative Council demanded the permanent suspension of BJP-supported Independent MLC Prashant Paricharak for his ‘derogatory’ remarks against wives of soldiers.
Paricharak, while addressing a rally in his district on Saturday, had said, “Soldiers distribute sweets at the Punjab border after having babies when they had not come home for a whole year.”
Raising the issue in the House on the first day of the budget session on Monday, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde argued that Rajya Sabha had suspended members for such behavior in the past. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should take suo-moto note and move the motion for suspension of Paricharak, said Congress leader Ashok alias Bhai Jagtap, while senior Sena MLC Dr Neelam Gorhe said that all women members of the council were hurt by Paricharak’s remarks.
Giving his ruling, Chairman of the council, Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, said that he would have to study the rules and past precedents. He assured the House that he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister and hold a meeting with group leaders of the House.
Council goes paperless
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council is on its way to become the first House in the country to go paperless. Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar made the announcement in the House on Monday and said that members were being provided with touch-screen Notebooks. Members will now be able to access attention notices, committee reports, reports of government-run corporations and other documents since 1937 online.
Nimbalkar stated that it was a step towards realising Prime Minister’s Digital India dream.