Pune firing issue stalks Maharashtra Assembly proceedings; adjourned twice

MUMBAI: Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly continued to stall the proceedings for the fourth consecutive day today on their demand for immediate suspension of cops involved in the firing on farmers in Pune district earlier this week.

Immediately after the House assembled for the day, Opposition members trooped into the Well of the House and Deputy Speaker Vasant Purke immediately announced the adjournment till the end of the Question Hour.

The House was again adjourned for half an hour after repeated requests of Speaker Dilip Walse Patil to the Opposition members, who squatted in the Well, to take their seats, went unheard.

Earlier in the morning, a delegation of 70 Opposition members met Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan and demanded dismissal of the government which they termed as "inefficient".

Even though the government has announced a judicial probe into the firing, Opposition members are demanding immediate suspension of the police officials who fired on the protesting farmers, killing three of them.

The farmers from Maval taluka who draw water for irrigation from the Pavana dam were agitating against the piped water supply scheme from the dam to Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.