Mumbai: The monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly got off to a stormy start on Monday with Opposition raising the issue of Supreme Court lifting the ban on James Laine's controversial book on Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Centre's affidavit on the boundary dispute with Karnataka.
As soon as the House assembled, Opposition members were on their feet and rushed to the Well shouting slogans "Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai" and demanded their adjournment notice to discuss the issue, setting aside the day's agenda, be taken up for debate.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said the issue over the American author's controversial book on the Maratha warrior contains "defamatory references" to the legendary king and needs to be debated.
PWP leader Ganpatrao Deshmukh said the boundary dispute with Karnataka should also be taken up for urgent discussion.
Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said Shivaji was an iconic figure and the government was ready to discuss the matter.
The House was adjourned for ten minutes with Speaker Dilip Walse Patil calling a meeting of group leaders on how to proceed with the debate.
Later, the House was adjourned till 1300 hours. When the House re-assembled, Walse Patil said the book issue would be taken up for discussion on Monday while the border dispute would be discussed on Tuesday.
The House then took up the condolence motion for former vice president Bairon Singh Shekhawat, former speaker Madhukarrao Chaudhary, Rajasthan Governor and former member of the House Prabha Rau and former members-- Narendra Tidke, Keshavrao Rane, Baburao Kotwal and Jaywantrao Kharat.
On Sunday, the Government announced a three-member Committee comprising of Advocate General, Law Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to explore legal options on halting printing and circulation of the controversial book in the Maharashtra.
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