Oppn boycott's guv's speech

Calling Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao an "RSS man", the principal Opposition parties of Maharashtra, Congress and NCP, boycotted the governor's customary address on the opening day of the Budget Session of the Maharashtra legislature on Monday.

Earlier this month, Rao, during his visit to Nagpur, had decribed RSS as one of the most secular and inclusive organisations and that he takes pride in his association with the saffron body.

This is perhaps the first time in the history of the Maharashtra legislature that the Opposition has boycotted the governor's address.

"Such statements from the people in constitutional positions is not acceptable," former chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said.

Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde of the NCP said such statements are not proper for a governor.

"Will the governor work in the interest of the people of the state or push the RSS' agenda as its worker?" he said.

"Rao's support to the RSS sows the seeds of divisiveness," state NCP president and former minister Jayant Patil said.

"A governor's post is constitutional and his remarks were unwarranted. The governor supports the RSS. The promises made by the governor have remained unfulfilled, so we have decided to boycott his speech," Patil said.

The Opposition members also staged a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhavan.