Speaker’s ‘Congress culture’ remark upsets Opposition

Mumbai: State Assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde’s “Congress culture” remark cau-sed a ruckus in the lower House Wednesday even as irate party members took strong objection, and gheraoed and shouted slogans against him.

The commotion subsided only after Mr Bagde agreed to expunge the remarks if there was anything objectionable. Mr Bagde made the remark while commenting on the gestures of Congress MLA Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan, who was trying to draw his attention. Ruling BJP members said that the gestures were insulting to the Speaker’s chair to which Mr Bagde remarked, “This is Congress culture.”

Senior NCP MLA Ajit Pawar said that Mr Bagde’s remark was unacceptable as the Congress’ contribution to the freedom struggle and nation building could not be ignored. “I was also associated with the party earlier,” he said.

However, Mr Bagde refu-sed to purge the comment from the house proceedings, saying that he did not mean any disrespect.

Miffed over this, Congre-ss members led by the leader of the Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil climbed onto the Speak-er’s podium to protest the remark and shouted slogans against Mr Bagde. Congress MLA Vasant Chavan even picked up the mace on the Speaker’s podium.

The day continued even after the presiding officer Yogesh Sagar took up the calling attention notices. Congress members continued shouting slogans as the discussion on calling attention continued. There was also heated verbal exchange between the minister of Legislature affairs Girish Bapat and Congress MLAs over some of the remarks.