Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: Afternoon Despatch & Courier
Date: July 21, 2006
URL: http://www.cybernoon.com/DisplayArticle.asp?section=fromthepress&subsection=inbombay&xfile=July2006_inbombay_standard10330
Introduction: Opposition creates pandemonium
over Ramdas Kadam's entry being banned in powerloom town
Bhiwandi resurfaced yet again in the Assembly
yesterday. It was the same old issue but with a new dimension and an added
touch of aggression.
The Assembly witnessed noisy scenes with the
Shiv Sena-BJP and the ruling Congress-NCP members creating loud scenes over
prevention of Leader of the Opposition, Ramdas Kadam, from entering Bhiwandi
town.
The House was adjourned thrice amid noisy
scenes and later adjourned for the day as pandemonium continued with ruling
Congress-NCP members raising the issue of alleged pay-off by the then NDA
government to terrorists in lieu of release of hijacked passengers of the
IA plane to Kandahar in 1999.
Earlier in the morning, Kadam was detained
by the Thane police and prevented from entering Bhiwandi, where he was proceeding
to begin construction of a police station. Two persons were killed in Bhiwandi
recently after police fired on a local mob which was protesting the construction
of a police station on a plot on which the Kabristan Committee had staked
its claim. Two policemen were lynched by the mob the following day.
When the House proceedings began, senior Sena
leader and former Speaker Datta Nalawade raised the issue of Kadam being taken
into custody by police and being stopped from entering Bhiwandi.
Congress-NCP members began shouting slogans
against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who had on July 17 addressed
a rally in the city. Opposition members also shouted slogans decrying the
state government. The House was adjourned for 30 minutes amid noisy scenes.
When the House reassembled, the noisy scenes
continued with Opposition condemning the state government for barring Kadam
from entering Bhiwandi and ruling benches accusing the saffron combine of
fuelling communal discord. The House was adjourned twice.
Deputy chief minister R R Patil informed the
House after the third adjournment that the state government would take tough
action against any politician who sought to vitiate the communal harmony in
the state. "Police had prevented Kadam from going to Bhiwandi in the
light of the sensitive situation but he was adamant," Patil said. "This
is not the time to indulge in petty politics," he added.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan
Patil said prohibitory orders were issued in Bhiwandi and both the Chief Minister
and deputy Chief Minister had requested Kadam to cancel his Bhiwandi visit.
NCP member Shashikant Shinde said the Opposition
was trying to destroy the atmosphere of understanding and sanity displayed
by Mumbaikars in the wake of the blasts, by indulging in `petty politics'.
Ruling members then displayed banners against BJP for the alleged Rs 900 crore
payoffs to the Kandahar hijackers in 1999.
Amid the noisy scenes, a bill to make effective
provisions for fire-prevention and life-safety measures in buildings was passed.
The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act (third amendment) bill, which provides
for empowering the civic body to fix rate of property tax on capital value,
was sent to joint select committee. The House was later adjourned for the
day.
