Speaker rejects Sena’s privilege motion against AG

NAGPUR: The Maharashtra state Assembly speaker, Haribhau Bagde, on Tuesday rejected the Shiv Sena’s notice on privilege motion against the advocate general of Maharashtra Shrihari Aney.

The Sena legislators shouted slogans against the AG and demanded his removal from the constitutional post for his reported statement to create a separate state of Vidarbha.

However, the speaker told the chief minister to make a statement in this regard. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he would gather the necessary information and make a statement.

Initiating a privilege motion against Aney, Sena member Pratap Sarnaik said by making a statement to divide Maharashtra, the advocate general Aney has violated his oath of secrecy and constitutional duties.

“He should be summoned before the Assembly and make an unconditional apology for his statement. If he refuses to make an apology, the government should remove him from the constitutional post immediately,” Sarnaik said.

Aney had said on December 5 in at Nagpur that the Centre should hold a referendum for separate state of Vidarbha.

He had also said the 105 persons martyred in January 1960 had not only given up their lives for keeping Vidarbha in Maharashtra but only to ensure that Mumbai remained in Maharashtra.

Sena members raised the issue in both the houses and finally initiated a privilege motion against the advocate general.

Justifying his demand, Sarnaik pointed out that in another controversial issue, former advocate general of the state, Darius Khambata, was also summoned in the house where he made an apology.

However, Bagde said Khambata was not summoned in the house for an apology and rejected the motion against the advocate general.

The Sena members rushed to the well of the house holding placards and shouting slogans against Aney.

Later, Sarnaik said Sena members would not sit silently on the issue till Aney tenders an apology