"Did you expect any other reaction?": Maharashtra Speaker Narwekar dismisses "allegations"

Jan 10, 2024

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 10 : Amid criticism from the UBT faction of Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Speaker Rahul Narwekar said that approaching a court does not mean that the order passed by him is overturned and one has to establish that it is illegal.
Slamming the opposition, Speaker Rahul Narwekar asked to show any irregularity or illegality in the order he passed.
"Did you expect any other reaction? Why are we deliberating on this? I don't answer baseless allegations. Kindly show any irregularity or illegality in the order that is passed. If there is any, then I will answer. Every citizen of India has the right to approach the Supreme Court and the High Court. However, just because you approach the court does not mean that the order passed by the Speaker is overturned; you have to establish that it is illegal or untenable in the eyes of the law. Your baseless allegations do not substantiate that," he said.
Further, the Maharashtra Assembly Speaker said that the UBT faction of Shiv Sena has a problem with everything.
"You have a problem with every constitutional institution. If ECI says anything, you have a problem; if the speaker passes any order, then you also have some problems. I don't want to indulge in this mud-slinging. No law prohibits a speaker who is to announce a verdict on disqualification pleas to meet the Chief Minister. I am the head of the legislative board; CM is a member, we have to meet every month to discuss various issues," he added.
Criticising the Maharashtra speaker's verdict on MLA's disqualification pleas, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the order was a murder of democracy and an insult to the decision of the Supreme Court.
"The Speaker's order that has come today is a murder of democracy and is also an insult to the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had clearly said that the governor had misused his position and made a wrong decision. So in such a situation, today's decision is not per democracy. If they think our Constitution is wrong, then why didn't they make anyone ineligible? He (Speaker) has insulted the Supreme Court while giving judgment. My request to the Supreme Court is that if the democracy of the country is to be saved, then they should take Suo Moto of this," he said.
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar on Wednesday rejected the disqualification cross-petitions filed by rival Shiv Sena groups in a crucial verdict and noted that the Shinde faction was real Shiv Sena following the June 2022 split in the party.
"All the petitions seeking disqualifications are rejected and no one is disqualified from any faction of Shiv Sena," the Speaker said as he read in the state assembly a lengthy verdict that went into on Shiv Sena constitution and changes made to it. He said "decision of Paksha Pramukh cannot be taken as the decision of the political party" and "Shinde faction was real Shiv Sena when rival factions emerged" in June 2022.