Opposition boycotts Governor C Vidyasagar Rao's address over absence of Marathi translation
PTI|
Feb 26, 2018, 04.49 PM IST
MUMBAI: The opposition parties today boycotted Governor C Vidyasagar Rao's joint address to the Maharashtra legislature on the opening day of its budget session, as they could not listen to the Marathi translation of his speech.
The angry opposition members then walked out of the Central Hall in protest.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later apologised over the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible for the lapse.
As soon as the governor started his address in English, the members put on their headphones but could not listen to the Marathi translation due to technical glitches.
The opposition members were seen complaining that they were unable to hear the Marathi translation of the governor's speech.
They then shouted slogans, charging the government with insulting the Marathi language.
Even BJP members Ashish Shelar and Raj Purohit were seen objecting to the absence of the Marathi translation of the governor's address. They were joined by the Shiv Sena legislators as well.
State Education Minister Vinod Tawde, who is also in-charge of the Marathi language department, then went to the translation room and read out the Marathi translation of the governor's address.
As the opposition members were still shouting slogans, Fadnavis and Purohit told them that the translation of the speech could now be heard.
But the opposition members were in no mood to listen and staged a walkout.
Later, when the Assembly convened for the month-long budget session, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil condemned the "insult" to the Marathi language.
He demanded that the responsibility be fixed and action taken against those responsible for the glaring lapse.
Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena, he said the members of the party quietly sat through, despite the insult to the Marathi language.
The angry opposition members then walked out of the Central Hall in protest.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later apologised over the incident and demanded strict action against those responsible for the lapse.
As soon as the governor started his address in English, the members put on their headphones but could not listen to the Marathi translation due to technical glitches.
The opposition members were seen complaining that they were unable to hear the Marathi translation of the governor's speech.
They then shouted slogans, charging the government with insulting the Marathi language.
Even BJP members Ashish Shelar and Raj Purohit were seen objecting to the absence of the Marathi translation of the governor's address. They were joined by the Shiv Sena legislators as well.
State Education Minister Vinod Tawde, who is also in-charge of the Marathi language department, then went to the translation room and read out the Marathi translation of the governor's address.
As the opposition members were still shouting slogans, Fadnavis and Purohit told them that the translation of the speech could now be heard.
But the opposition members were in no mood to listen and staged a walkout.
Later, when the Assembly convened for the month-long budget session, Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil condemned the "insult" to the Marathi language.
He demanded that the responsibility be fixed and action taken against those responsible for the glaring lapse.
Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena, he said the members of the party quietly sat through, despite the insult to the Marathi language.
