Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned twice amid acrimonious scenes after a BJP MLA alleged that an NCP legislator had insulted the national flag.
BJP legislator Ashish Shelar raised the issue in the Lower House, alleging NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad had insulted the tricolour by rubbing his face with it.
This irked the opposition members who shouted slogans and created a ruckus in the House, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
Later, the House was again adjourned for half-an-hour as noisy scenes continued.
Assembly Speaker Haribhau Bagde had yesterday said he will give a ruling today on the alleged insult to the national flag by the opposition legislator.
“I have seen a video clip which shows the tricolour being insulted by the (NCP) MLA. It was being carried like a bag and it looked as if someone had wiped his face with it,” Shelar had said yesterday.
The clip was shot when opposition MLAs were speaking on the issue of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ remarks, Shelar said.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse had yesterday said the Speaker should examine the video clip. “We will not tolerate insult to the national flag,” Khadse said.
The Speaker had asked legislators to be extra-cautious while handling the national flag.
