Opposition united inside Maharashtra Assembly, divided outside

Though the Maharashtra assembly unanimously suspended Waris Pathan, member of AIMIM for the remaining period of ongoing budget session over his refusal to say the slogan Bharat Mata ki Jai, the Congress said that they only demanded apology from Mr Pathan while NCP claimed that the affair was a “match fixing” between MIM and BJP. Congress, which had supported ‘freedom of expression’ in the JNU controversy, joined hands with BJP and Shiv Sena over the decision of suspension of Mr Pathan.

When asked why Congress had taken a contradictory stand to what it had taken in the JNU issue, leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “JNU and Kanhiya (Kumar) was the different issue. The party had taken stand through national aspect but at state-level, we have to think over local situations.”

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress party legislator Jitendra Awhad claimed the issue was a “match fixing” between BJP and MIM. He claimed Mr Pathan and BJP legislator Ram Kadam were seen together at the House outside the lobby before Mr Pathan was suspended. He said that the Koran has said one should love the motherland. “So it is not insulting to say Bharat Mata ki Jai,” said Mr Awhad.