Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, suspended for 5 days

Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve of the Shiv Sena (UBT), addresses reporters on July 2, 2024. | Photo credit: X/@ShivsenaUBTComm

On July 2, the Maharashtra Legislative Council suspended Opposition Leader and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve for five days for using abusive language in Parliament.

Mr Danve was accused of hurling insults at BJP MP Prasad Lad during a discussion in the council on the evening of July 1. Mr Lad had demanded a resolution condemning Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s remarks that he was not a Hindu in the Lok Sabha, which drew a sharp reaction from the Sena leader (UBT).

Following the incident, the council meeting was adjourned three times as BJP MPs continued to insist that action be taken against Mr Danve.

On July 2, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil moved a motion for his suspension, which was passed by a majority.

Deputy Speaker of the House Neelam Gorhe read out the suspension order, which said: “Opposition leader Ambadas Danve has shown indiscipline and used vulgar and abusive language against MP Prasad Lad.”

“His conduct has tarnished the image and insulted the Council. If his misconduct is ignored, it could create a new precedent. His misconduct is taken seriously and the House proposes to suspend him for five days and bar him from entering the Vidhan Bhavan premises,” it added.

Senior Shiv Sena MP Anil Parab demanded that Mr Danve be given an opportunity to explain his side of the issue, but this demand was not met. The opposition later staged a walkout to protest the decision and raised slogans against Ms Gorhe.

“Unilateral decision and pre-planned conspiracy”: Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray arrives along with party leaders at Vidhan Bhavan during the budget session of the assembly in Mumbai on July 2, 2024. | Image credit: PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said the decision to suspend Mr Danve was unilateral and a pre-planned conspiracy.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Thackeray said Mr Danve was not given an opportunity to explain his side of the matter before his suspension.

Mr Thackeray said as leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), he apologised for Mr Danve’s remarks if they had hurt women, but asked what action was taken against the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders for making such remarks outside Parliament.

“There was a need for discussion about the decision (to suspend Danve), but there was no discussion about it,” he said.

He said the suspension was done to overshadow his party’s victory in the Legislative Council elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates Anil Parab and Jagannath Abhyankar won from the Mumbai Graduates and Teachers constituencies respectively.

“The conspiracy (to suspend Mr Danve) was a planned conspiracy,” Mr Thackeray said.

“Whatever you (the government) do is democracy and what we (the opposition) do is a crime,” he added, taking a swipe at the government.

He said the suspension came at a time when the opposition had begun to dissect the state budget.