Prashant Paricharak suspended for his loose tongue

Mumbai: For the first time in the history of Maharashtra Legislative Council, a member has been suspended for words he spoke outside the House.

The Upper House on Thursday suspended Prashant Paricharak, an Independent MLC from Pandharpur, for making derogatory statement against soldiers’ wives.

Mr Paricharak, while addressing a rally in Pandharpur in February, said, “Soldiers distribute sweets at the Punjab border after having babies when they had not come home for a whole year.”

The ruling party proposed the suspension and the House voted unanimously for it. A seven-member committee has also been formed including members of the ruling party and opposition, which will present its report by the monsoon session and it will make suggestions action against Paricharak, which will include permanent expulsion, a warning or jail term.

The upper house in the last three days was adjourned on the issue of demanding expulsion of Paricharak. Since day one of the budget session, the upper house has seen adjournment for almost all the days it functioned on the Paricharak issue.

Earlier, the opposition wanted suspension of Paricharak, but then it turned into expulsion. However, Chandrakant Patil the leader of the house had suggested that a committee be formed and decision be taken on his expulsion.

On Thursday, Mr Patil announced a committee comprising chairman of the council Ramraje Nimbalkar, Chadrakant Patil, Leader of Opposition, Dhananjay Munde, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare, Congress leaders Narayan Rane, and Sharad Ranpise, Sena MLC, Neelam Gorhe, BJP MLC Bhai Girkar, Jayant Patil of PWP and Kapil Patil of Sikshak Bharti. Mr Nimbalkar would be the chairman of the committee. “Paricharak had apololgised on television but that isn’t sufficient. A committee will be formed and it will submit the report. Action will be taken as per its recommendations. Till then, he would be suspended for one-and-a-half years,” Mr Patil said.

When asked, Mr Munde said, “The conduct of Paricharak was unbecoming of a member of legislative council. He has hurt the sentiments of the nation. He should be expelled. This is the first time that such an action has been taken by the house.”

Another member Hemant Takle, said, “Such precedent needs to be set as the words used by Paricharak were derogatory. People look at us with respect and we have some responsibility towards the public.”