Nana Patole
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Nana Patole was suspended from Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for a day on Tuesday after he climbed the Speaker's podium while protesting against the comments of ruling Maha Yuti government’s Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and legislator Babanrao Lonikar.
Popularly known as Nana Bhau, the firebrand Patole is a former Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
After his suspension, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi staged a walkout and boycotted the proceedings of the day.
“I will fight all those who are against farmers. And for that, I am okay even if I am suspended everyday,” Patole told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan complex.
Patole is a former Maharashtra Congress president, a three-time MLA from Sakoli and a one-term MP from Bhandara-Gondiya.
Patole is a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was among the first to revolt against him and come out of BJP to join Congress.
Former minister and BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar has recently said, “Modi gave Rs 6,000 for sowing, the State gives the rest. We give salaries to mothers, pensions to fathers, and our sisters and daughters benefit from the Ladki Bahin scheme. We have given them clothes, shoes, phones, yet people keep criticising us.”
State agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate of the NCP, had said, “Even a beggar does not take Re1 as alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Rs 1. Even then there are people who try to misuse it. There are irregularities like people from other states applying.”
Alleging “insult” to the farmers, Patole came on the podium and was seen arguing with Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
The House was subsequently adjourned for five minutes.
When the proceedings reconvened, Nana Patole again climbed the Speaker's podium and demanded action against Lonikar and Kokate.
“This is an inappropriate behaviour,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
Meanwhile, speaker Rahul Narwekar requested Patole to go back to his chair, however, he refused.
“I am suspending Patole for the day’s proceedings,” said Narwekar announcing the suspension.
“Modi might be the father of the BJP leaders, but he is not the father of farmers... If we are not allowed to raise our voice for the farmers, by our Speaker, then we exercised our political right,” said Patole.