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Opposition walks out of Maharashtra assembly to protest against Sena's strip show

The entire opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly staged a walkout to protest against the bare-chested morcha by Shiv Sena activists outside the residence of noted film star Dilip Kumar in Bombay on Saturday.

The issue came up in the house when Narsayya Adam (Communist Paryt of India-Marxist), R R Patil (Congress) and others who wanted to bring about an adjournment motion on the controversial film Fire and the recent acts of violence over its screening.

Speaker Datta Nalawade refused permission, saying that the entire issue was sub judice as a petition filed in this regard in the Bombay high court was likely to come up for hearing.

This led to noisy scenes in the house, with opposition members including Suhail Lokhandwala (Samajwadi Party), Sambhaji Pawar (Janata Dal), Anandrao Devkate (Congress) and others rushing to the well of the house and arguing with the speaker.

Meanwhile, leader of the opposition Madhukar Pichad stood up and all the members went back to their seats. Pichad said the ruling combine of Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party had tried to suppress freedom of expression and resorted to acts like the morcha outside Dilip Kumar's residence. "This is an attack on the democratic fabric of the nation and it should be condemned," saying this, he led the opposition members in the walkout.

UNI

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