Why weren't the Marshals called inside Assembly?

Political biggies feel Speaker could have, but did not do enough to prevent shameful situation in Vidhan Sabha

Political biggies feel Speaker could have, but did not dou00a0enough to prevent shameful situation in Vidhan Sabha

The drama surrounding the attack on Abu Azmi could have been avoided, believe political biggies who have spent considerable time in the Assembly.

They feel the pro-term Speaker erred by not allowing marshals inside
the house.

Provocation

"The speaker has the power to call for marshals if he thinks the situation is spiralling out of control. There was already provocation and fear psychosis among the MLAs.
u00a0
The potential troublemakers should have been identified. The marshals could have stood near them and prevented such an attack.

Line of Control: MNS MLA Ram Kadam, who attacked Abu Azmi, walks out of Vidhan Bhawan yesterday. The marshalsu00a0stationed at the gate cannot enter and stop MLAs, who disrupt the house, unless the speaker directs them.

However, till the speaker instructs them, they cannot touch the MLAs," said Janardhan Chandurkar, a former panel speaker.

Added Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi, who was manhandled, "If the government had placed the marshals, the incident would not have taken place."

A former speaker and MLA said, "The state government and the speaker should have anticipated such a situation after MNS chief Raj Thackeray openly threatened MLAs who refused to take oath in Marathi.

The pro-term could have posted marshals inside the house and ensured Abu Azmi was not manhandled."

No discussion

A Congress activist blamed the government for the ruckus yesterday.

"Forget the speaker, why didn't the chief minister and the deputy chief minister discuss it with the speaker and take preventive measures to ensure the incident did not take place."

An IPS official explained, "Nearly 300 police personnel were present outside the Vidhan Bhavan. The issue has been blown out of proportion."

25
Approximate number of marshals posted outside Vidhan Bhavan

300
The number of policemen deployed outside the House

CM defends

"We are cultured people and have acted responsibly. This is shameful. Why do we need marshals, they are required for tackling a mob.

Besides, political differences can be resolved by talking to each other. If violence takes place, it will be dealt with strictly," said Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.