JOIN USPenalty for MLC over remarks on soldiers' wives
BJP-backed independent legislator Prashant Paricharak was on Thursday suspended by the Maharashtra Legislative Council for one and a half years for reportedly making derogatory remarks against soldiers’ wives at a public rally last month.
“He (the soldier) happily tells (his colleagues) that his wife has given birth to a baby boy... but he has not visited home for a whole year," Paricharak had reportedly said at a rally in Solapur district last month.
Paricharak had apologised for his comments.
Shiv Sena joined Congress and Nationalist Congress Party in demanding Paricharak’s suspension from the Upper House. There were also public protests against the comments, including by ex-servicemen. A 10-member committee comprising members of the Council was also formed to probe the incident, give Paricharak a hearing and recommend the final action against the legislator.
Chairman of the Council Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar heads the committee which includes legislators across parties.
The committee members include Leader of Opposition in Council Dhananjay Munde, Narayan Rane, Sunil Tatkare, Sharad Ranpise, Neelam Gorhe, Bhai Girkar, Kapil Patil and Jayant Patil.
The committee will submit its report before the monsoon session of the legislature.
Paricharak was elected MLC from Solapur local authorities constituency in 2016 and his term in the House is till 2022.
"The comments were extremely derogatory and condemnable... statements against families of soldiers are not acceptable and an apology for it is not enough," Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil of BJP, who is Leader of the House said.
"A message needs to be sent that a member (of the state legislature), irrespective of his political party, should be treated harshly if he makes such comments," Munde said.
The Chair then called for a voice vote to adopt a resolution which was accepted unanimously by all members.