Mumbai:
The Maharashtra Assembly witnessed din on Wednesday when the opposition BJP objected to a Congress leader’s comments that the amended Citizenship Act should not be implemented in the state.
Later, Speaker Nana Patole expunged all remarks related to the new citizenship law being ‘unconstitutional’.
After the House assembled for the day, senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan said the amended Citizenship Act should not be implemented in the state.
However, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis objected to Chavan’s demand.
“Both the Houses of Parliament have passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). This (state) government can’t decide not to implement it,” he said.
Supporting Fadnavis, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “The Assembly members cannot comment on decisions of the President, Assembly speaker and Parliament.”
NCP member Jitendra Awhad objected to it and said any law which is available in public domain can be discussed in the House.
“This House has previously discussed POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), so it also can discuss CAA,” he said.
Congress MLA Amin Patel also supported Chavan’s demand and said, “This Act is not about Hindu or Muslim, but about rich and poor, it should not be implemented here.”
Later, after the discussion with senior leaders of the ruling parties and the opposition, Patole said, “I order the House to expunge all remarks related to CAA being unconstitutional.”
Amid arguments continuing over the issue, the House was adjourned 10 minutes.
Later, when the House reassembled, noisy scenes continued following which Yashomati Thakur, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for another 10 minutes.
