Police firing: Opposition seeks President's intervention

After demanding the dismissal of the Democratic Front government in the state over the Maval firing which claimed three lives, opposition parties have decided to meet President Pratibha Patil for her intervention.

Leader of opposition in the state assembly Eknath Khadse announced this after the monsoon session came to an end on Friday.

Khadse said a delegation of leaders from the opposition parties will soon meet the President and apprise her of the high-handedness of the state government in dealing with farmers.

“This is not the first instance of firing during this government’s tenure. This is the second such instance in the last 15 days,” Khadse said, adding that the state government has lost the moral authority to govern as seen by its “cruel” suppression of the farmers’ agitation.

The proceedings of the state assembly were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as the opposition targeted the Congress-led government over the Maval firing.

The opposition demanded the suspension of the Pune SP (Rural) Sandeep Karnik for the firing on protesting farmers.

Subhash Desai of the Shiv Sena moved a breach of privilege motion against Karnik for his contradictory statements in the press conference. Desai said he was not allowed to hold a press conference during the session. “He (Karnik) not only justified the police action, but even issued a statement contradicting home minister RR Patil. This was the breach of privilege of the House,” Desai said.

Bala Nandgaonkar of the MNS demanded that deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister RR Patil be booked under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for the killings.

The House was adjourned on three occasions after the opposition created furore over the Maval firing issue. The winter session of the state legislature will commence from December 12.