Mumbai, July 19 (IANS) Pandemonium reigned in the Maharashtra legislature Monday over the Babli dam issue with anti-Telugu Desam Party (TDP) slogans being raised in both houses, which were later adjourned for the day without transacting any business.
The proceedings began with loud protests in the morning when the assembly met after the weekend break with opposition members rushing to the speaker’s podium house holding anti-Chandrababu Naidu placards and condemning the politicization of the Babli dam issue.
The members shouted slogans condemning the former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and demanded his return to his state by shouting ‘Chandrababu Naidu chale jao’ (Chandrababu Naidu go back) in the house.
Even as some ruling party members joined the protests, opposition leader Eknath Khadse demanded that his notice of adjournment be taken up for discussion immediately.
In the ensuing ruckus that followed, Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil adjourned the house twice for 20 minutes.
When the house reassembled, Walse-Patil announced that in view of the strong sentiments of the members cutting across party lines, he was adjourning the house for the rest of the day.
There were similar scenes in the legislative council which also witnessed two adjournments of 15 and 20 minutes each over the Babli dam issue.
Leader of opposition in the legislative council Pandurang Phundk had moved an adjournment notice seeking a debate on the issue and Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote demanded the government clarify its stand as the issue had become politicaly volatile.
As the noisy scenes continued despite two adjournments by Deputy Chairman Vasant Davkhare, council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh finally decided to adjourn the house for the day.
Last Friday, Naidu, along with 74 supporters, entered Maharashtra’s Nanded district and was arrested since they flouted prohibitory orders.
The TDP leaders had come as part of a bus convoy and wanted to examine the site of the dam over the Godavari river and ascertain whether Maharashtra was using more than its share of water.
Shortly after the legislature was adjourned, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan declared that Andhra Pradesh would not be deprived of its due share of water by this state.
Speaking to mediapersons briefly, Chavan said that Maharashtra would give Andhra Pradesh its full share of water.
He urged the agitators to wait for the final verdict of the Supreme Court in the matter and not politicize the issue.
‘They are facing a by-election in Telangana region July 27 and they are trying to gain political mileage from this issue,’ Chavan said.
Meanwhile, Naidu and his supporters have refused to accept bail and continue to be under the custody of the district and police authorities in Dharmabad town in Nanded.
