It was khadi versus khaki and the media as legislators moved a privilege motions against editors of news channels for coverage of the attack on PSI Sachin Suryavanshi.
MLCs turned their ire on the media as MLC Bhai Jagtap moved a privilege motion against editors " Nikhil Wagle of IBN Lokmat and Rajeev Khandekar of ABP Mazha " for maligning the image of public representatives. He said the two had called legislators names like mavali, goonda. (goons) Jagtap said that the journalists even alleged that there was a conspiracy by the CM to ensure that the MLAs were not arrested and pointed out that everybody had condemned Suryavanshi"™s assault.
In the assembly, speaker Dilip Valse Patil said there was suspicion in his mind on whether there was a"conspiracy" to intentionally arrest the legislators before television cameras and defame politicians instead of arresting or detaining them elsewhere.
The assembly, which had to be adjourned several times, saw stormy scenes as MLAs charged that Ram Kadam and Kshitij Thakur, who have been arrested for assaulting the PSI, had been deliberately booked under false sections.
The Shiv Sena"™s Subhash Desai charged that whenSuryavanshi was posted at Goregaon police station, he had not acted against a brothel despite complaints.
Industries minister Narayan Rane led the charge pointing out that barring a few exceptions, most journalists who participated in television debates could be charged with breach of privilege.
Leader of the opposition, Eknath Khadse, said no legislator or party had supported the attack and added that it was wrong to put a question mark on the house at large. He questioned why the police wanted to arrest the MLAs immediately after an FIR had been lodged and charged that FIRs had been lodged against 22 police officials.
Desai rued that parliamentary affairs minister Harshavardhan Patil had been hasty in moving the motion for the suspension of the five MLAs and questioned why just five MLAs had been singled out from a mob of around 50. He demanded the suspension of the MLAs, most of whom are from the opposition benches.
Abhijit Adsul (Sena) alleged that when they met Suryavanshi after the assault, he was on his feet and speaking on the phone. Adsul said there was no need to take Suryavanshi out on a stretcher.