Speaker bows to Opposition demand

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, April.10.The opposition Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra today could get across in the State Assembly its demand for the trial of Samajwadi Party leader, Mr. Abu Azmi for sedition because of his alleged statement that he would not care if the country was broken into pieces while saving his religion.

The uproar in the House ended only after the Speaker, Mr. Arun Gujarathi told the Opposition that he would personally pay attention to see that the government fulfilled its promise of trying Mr. Azmi under all relevant laws.

The Opposition was reacting to a statement made by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal on the matter as directed some days ago by the Speaker. He told the House that all three tapes of the impugned speech were sent to the forensic laboratory of the CBI for checking their authenticity.

He said that Mr. Azmi was arrested and released on bail for disturbing communal harmony and promoting enmity among different communities. The government would decide about further action only after receiving the report from the laboratory.

The Opposition had continuously disrupted the working of the house at the beginning of the budget session, demanding action against Mr. Azmi. They were not pacified by the registration of a case against him. Finally a compromise was reached in the presence of the Speaker when the government ensured that a detailed statement would be made on April 10.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Narayan Rane demanded that the SP leader should be arrested at once under the IPC 124(A)--sedition. A BJP leader, Mr. Arun Adsul said that the government was dilly-dallying in the matter for Mr. Azmi's Samajwadi Party was a partner of the ruling coalition, Democratic Front and he was a member of its Coordination Committee.

The BJP group leader, Mr. Gopinath Munde said that it was not at all necessary to send the tapes to the CBI and the government could have arrested the offending leader even before that.

Mr. Bhujbal told the Opposition that the ruling side was as patriotic as the opposition and Mr. Azmi would be tried under the laws,if found necessary. But the ride made the opposition sceptical. They calmed down only after the Speaker assured that he would personally monitor the progress of the matter. Earlier, the uproar had forced him to adjourn the House for ten minutes.

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Section  : Regional
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