Commotion in Maharashtra Council as BJP accuses Sharad Pawar of influencing Jarange

Sharad Pawar/ File Pic

A heated discussion broke out in the Maharashtra legislative council after BJP leader Praveen Darekar criticised Maratha quota campaigner Manoj Jarange's combative words against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, blaming senior politician Sharad Pawar. The opposition objected to Darekar's remarks, causing a commotion and a temporary delay of the session.

Jarange, speaking to a crowd in Antarwali Sarati hamlet, claimed that Fadnavis was planning against him and said he would hold a protest in Mumbai. He also claimed to have been subjected to a saline poisoning attempt but did not provide any further specifics, reported PTI.

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According to the report, BJP leader Darekar raised the subject in the Council, claiming that leaders from the NCP, particularly Sharad Pawar, together with MLA Rajesh Tope and Rohit Pawar, coordinated Jarange's movement to foment unrest in the state.

The opposition, led by Leader of the Opposition Ambadas Danve and NCP MLC Shashikant Shinde, strongly opposed to Darekar's claims, resulting in a violent confrontation between members on both sides, the report added.

The PTI report additionally stated that despite efforts by deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe to restore order, emotions remained, necessitating a five-minute adjournment of the House.

Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narwekar has requested that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) look into the controversial claims made against Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange.

According to another PTI report, the members of the ruling coalition interrupted the assembly session to short adjourn it after citing Jarange's remarks, which implied a plot to incite unrest in the state.

Speaking at Antarwali Sarati village, Jarange declared he would stage a protest outside the Mumbai home of the Deputy Chief Minister, accusing Fadnavis of attempting to harm him. In addition, he stated that saline had poisoned him, but he gave no further details, the agency report read.

BJP leader Ashish Shelar brought up the issue in the Lower House, criticising violent language meant to instigate violence and raising concerns about Jarange's leaders' motivations. Speaker Narwekar instructed the administration to use the SIT to carry out a thorough probe, the PTI report stated.