Ramdas Kadam's Bhiwandi trip sets House on fire

MUMBAI: Maharashtra assembly on Thursday witnessed uproarious scenes with the opposition Shiv Sena-BJP and the ruling Congress-NCP members trading charges over the police preventing leader of opposition Ramdas Kadam from entering Bhiwandi in Thane.

The House was adjourned thrice amid noisy scenes and later adjourned for the day. Mr Kadam was detained by police before he could enter Bhiwandi to launch the building of a police station, an issue that had sparked riots early this month.

Two persons were killed in police firing on July 5 during protests against the construction on a plot on which the local Kabristan committee had staked claim. Two policemen were lynched by a mob the next day.

As the house proceedings began on Thursday, senior Sena leader and former speaker Datta Nalawade raised the issue of Mr Kadam’s detention.

The Congress-NCP members began shouting slogans against Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who had addressed a rally here on July 17. Opposition members responded with slogans decrying the state government. The House was adjourned for 30 minutes amid noisy scenes.

When it reassembled, the opposition raised the issue again and the and ruling benches accused the saffron combine of fuelling communal discord and the house was adjourned twice.