SP MLA Abu Azmi’s remarks on Vande Mataram create ruckus in Maha Assembly

Mumbai: The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday was adjourned following a noisy protest by BJP MLAs over a remark about Vande Mataram by Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi.

While raising the issue of a riot in the Sambhajinagar district, Azmi said that chanting the slogan ‘Vande Mataram’ was unacceptable to him.

“Some people say that if one has to live in India, `Vande Mataram’ must be chanted. We can not do it. We believe only in one god,” he said.

A ruckus followed as BJP MLAs took a strong exception to the statement.

Speaker Rahul Narwekar appealed to the legislators to calm down. “Azmi’s comments are irrelevant to the topic. He should focus on the issue listed for the discussion,” Narwekar said.

But the protest continued and the Speaker adjourned the house for ten minutes.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)