Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session: Nana Patole and other MVA legislators protested against alleged derogatory remarks by Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar about farmers. (Express Photo)Congress MLA Nana Patole was suspended for a day from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Tuesday after he climbed Speaker Rahul Narwekar’s podium amid aggressive protests by the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MLAs.On the second day of the Monsoon Session, MVA legislators staged a protest against alleged derogatory remarks made by Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP MLA and former minister Babanrao Lonikar against farmers and demanded an apology from the state government after the Question Hour.Lonikar recently addressed a gathering of farmers in his constituency of Partur in the Jalna district and said those who criticise his party and government should know they are getting “clothes, shoes, mobile, monetary benefits of schemes and money for sowing because of us”. Kokate allegedly claimed that farmers used the funds from loan waivers on weddings.Senior Congress leaders, including Vijay Wadettiwar, Aslam Shaikh, Jyoti Gaikwad, and Patole, approached the Speaker’s chair to seek a retraction of Lonikar’s remarks and a formal apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.“Babanrao Lonikar and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate have been continuously insulting farmers. This insult to farmers will not be tolerated. The chief minister must apologise to the farmers in the Assembly. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi may be your father, but he can never be the father of farmers,” Patole, a former Maharashtra Assembly speaker, said.Speaker Narwekar warned Patole for using unparliamentary language. Nevertheless, Patole approached the Speaker’s chair and began arguing. As the House got chaotic with sloganeering from the Opposition, Speaker Narwekar suspended the proceedings for five minutes in an attempt to restore order.However, when the proceedings resumed, the Opposition began chanting slogans such as “apologise, apologise, apologise to the farmers”. Despite repeated warnings from Speaker Narwekar, Patole continued to argue near the Speaker’s chair. At this point, CM Fadnavis intervened and demanded an apology from Patole.Story continues below this ad“Expressing emotions on an issue is one thing, but charging on toward the Speaker is inappropriate. It is as if the Speaker himself is being blamed. We are witnessing this kind of behaviour for the first time in this House. Yes, members have approached the Chair before, but physically charging at the Speaker is not acceptable. Nana Patole himself has served as Speaker. His conduct is not befitting of that position. He should apologise,” said Fadnavis.Moments later, Patole once again approached the Well of the House and climbed the Speaker’s podium, following which Narwekar ordered his suspension for the remainder of the day. The order triggered a fresh wave of protests, culminating in a walkout by the entire Opposition, which boycotted the rest of the day’s proceedings.Speaking to the media later, MVA leaders slammed the government for “insulting the farming community” and accused the ruling BJP of shielding its members who make “irresponsible and inflammatory remarks”.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd