Protests on FB posts: Speaker asks Maharashtra government to make statement

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker today asked the government to make a statement on the issue of law and order problems in different parts of the state over derogatory references to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj and Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray on social networking site Facebook.

The adjournment notice on the issue was moved by Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse and others. But, the Speaker Dilip Walse Patil rejected the same and disallowed members from speaking on it.

"We are all well wishers of Maharashtra and should refrain from commenting on the matter. I have asked the government to make a statement," he said.

Opposition members had demanded a discussion on the issue saying that the incident had led to a riot-like situation in different parts of the state including Sangli, Nashik and Mumbai. They said the law and order had broken down in the state.

There had been protests in some parts of the state yesterday over the controversial Facebook posts.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had asked party workers to be calm and not disturb the people by staging bandhs, protests and resorting to violence in the wake of the derogatory Facebook posts.

Thackeray also spoke to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who assured him an in-depth probe into the matter.