Oppn raises objection after minister skips session in Maharashtra council

The opposition raised an objection in the Maharashtra legislative council on Monday after a minister remained absent from the session to attend the unveiling of a statue reported news agency PTINCP MLC Shashikant Shinde pointed out the absence of state Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sanjay Bansode after a question regarding his ministry was posed during the Question Hour reported PTIBJP leader and state Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said he had taken the briefing and would address the questionLegislative council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe said Bansode had informed me and received permission to attend the inauguration of a statue in his assembly constituency I permitted him to go there reported PTIHowever the explanation did not satisfy the opposition with MLC Kapil Patil stating that the minister should not underestimate the sanctity of the House reported PTIWhen the House is in session no other work in the state is considered necessary How can a statue inauguration be more important than the functioning of the council Such a permission should not have been granted to Minister Bansode he said reported PTIResponding to Patil Gorhe assured that she had warned the minister about the sameMeanwhile Legislators from the opposition parties staged a walkout in the Maharashtra legislative council on Monday after a BJP MLC proposed a resolution congratulating BCCI treasurer and BJP MLA Ashish Shelar on the Indian cricket teams victory in the T20 World Cup reported PTIOpposition leaders walked out claiming that legislative council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe had ignored their concernsThe Indian cricket team has won the T20 World Cup after 13 years MLA Shelar is the treasurer of the BCCI so I propose a resolution to congratulate him BJP legislator Prasad Lad said reported PTIThe proposal drew strong objection from Shiv Sena UBT leaders Ambadas Danve and Sachin Ahir Congresss Abhijeet Wanjari Bhai Jagtap and Satej Patil and NCP SP leader Shashikant ShindeHowever when deputy chairperson Gorhe did not allow any discussion Lad expressed his disappointment stating This House has passed a congratulatory resolution for Sharad Pawar Why not for Shelar reported PTILeader of Opposition in the council Ambadas Danve said Why is our voice muzzled When issues are discussed in the House the deputy speaker allows a BJP leader to participate but why is no one from the opposition permitted to speak We are here for discussions reported PTIDanve later announced a walkout in protestOpposition leaders gathered near the deputy chairperson and accused her of bias But the situation escalated and they shouted slogans denouncing Gorhes actions reported PTIGorhe withheld her decision and suggested that the issue be decided during a meeting of party leaders However the opposition parties rejected her proposalWith inputs from PTI