Mumbai: For the first time in the history of the state legislature, a budget discussion was totally curtailed. It was scheduled on Thursday but with the Opposition boycotting proceedings over the suspension of MLAs, the government cleared it with a statement of just two minutes from finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Shiv Sena strongly objected to the conduct of the House, terming it ‘dictatorial’. In the midst of all this, the government got the vote of account cleared.
Discussion on the state budget presented on March 18 was scheduled for the last two days in the Assembly but could not take place on Wednesday as the opposition boycotted proceedings over suspension of MLAs. When the House commenced, BJP was seen as resolute on finishing the business of the house as soon as possible. The speaker changed the order of business and took up the budget for discussion with the chairperson asking Mr Mungantiwar to speak on the budget. In a way, it was recorded as the finance minister’s reply to the budget discussion.
Sena’s Vijay Auti rose to object to the proceedings. He expressed his wish to speak on the budget but the chairperson did not allow him. Then parliamentary affairs minister Girish Bapat intervened and requested Mr Auti for a department-wise discussion. Mr Auti objected to this saying it was his right to speak and get a reply on the budget. He was not allowed to speak and the chairperson declared that the House was done with the budget discussion.
