'Targeted As I Suspended 12 BJP MLAs': Sena MLA Who Had To Apologise For 'Mimicking' PM Modi In House

"Fadnavis was twisting the words of Minister Nitin Raut, I only reminded him that Mr. Modi did not say those things as a Prime Minister, but as a Prime Ministerial candidate," said Bhaskar Jadhav.

Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav (L) & Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis | Images: PTI & AFP

New Delhi: There was a huge uproar in the Maharashtra Assembly on the first day of the Winter Session on Wednesday as Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders accused Shiv Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav of "mocking" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and demanded that he tendered an apology. 

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP MLAs stalled the proceedings of the House for nearly two hours, demanding an apology. According to Fadnavis, the Sena MLA had mimicked the PM by making certain gestures. 

Jadhav, a five-time MLA from Shiv Sena, later apologised for his remarks but maintained that he never said or did anything unparliamentary. "As a Konkani, I was speaking in my natural way. I only wanted to point out that promises were not fulfilled under the BJP," Jadhav later told ABP Live. 

What Was The Issue?

During the proceedings of the House on Wednesday, BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar had questioned Maharashtra Energy Minister, Congress' Nitin Raut, why he "backtracked" on his promise to waive electricity bills of up to 100 units. In his reply, Raut said the matter pertaining to the electricity bill waiver would be "considered". But he also chose the occasion to point out that PM Modi had also "backtracked" on his promise made to farmers.

At this moment, Sena MLA Jadhav got up and allegedly mimicked the PM as he said in Hindi: "Should we bring back the black money?" 

Here is the purported video where Jadhav allegedly mimicked PM Modi: 

Mimicry of #Modi by #bhaskarjadhav
in #MaharashtraAssembly@Dev_Fadnavis

He has apologized later after huge uproar... pic.twitter.com/yumWOt6YDU

— Kaiwant (@KAIWANT) December 22, 2021

Speaking to ABP Live, Jadhav reasoned why he said what he did.

"Fadnavis was twisting the words of Minister Nitin Raut, I only reminded him that Mr. Modi did not say those things as a Prime Minister, but as a Prime Ministerial candidate." 

He also said: "Fadnavis knows very well to play with words. He said Mr. Modi never said this (promise to brng back black money) as a PM of India. Thus, I also said that Mr. Modi said it when he was the Prime Ministerial candidate and not when he was the PM."

The Shiv Sena MLA said that he took back the "objectionable" remarks, but Fadnavis was adament on an apology. "How can one withdraw the objectionable gestures?" Jadhav asked.

After two adjournments of the House, he agreed to apologise for his remarks but insisted that he did not use any unparliamentary word. "If my body language has hurt the members of the House, I tender an apology," he said in the Lower House. 

'BJP Is Targetting Me As I Suspended Their 12 MLAs' 

Bhaskar Jadhav was the presiding chairperson during the previous session of the Maharashtra Assembly when he had suspended 12 BJP MLAs on July 5, 2021, for "misbehaving" in the House. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab had moved a motion to suspend the MLAs which was passed. 

"They (BJP) are targetting me as I suspended their 12 MLAs. This is vengeful behaviour by the BJP. Even we used to get suspended from the assembly for various reasons, but we used to forget it coming into the next session. It is clear that BJP has not forgotten about it," Jadhav told ABP Live. 

"The party seniors asked me that I should withdraw my words. So I apologised unconditionally," he added. 

Speaking in the House, Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar later said leaders of all parties should be respected in the legislature.

Congress Comes To Jadhav's Rescue

While the uproar ended inside the Assembly, it continued outside.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted a video of PM Modi with a caption, "Presenting Modi's art in the organisation. A reminder to BJP leaders who have forgotten Modi's ideal." 

विधानसभेत अंगविक्षेप केले असा आरोप करत शिवसेना नेते भास्कर जाधव यांनी माफी मागावी अशी मागणी @Dev_Fadnavis जी व @BJP4Maharashtra नेत्यांनी करून हक्कभंग आणण्याची धमकी दिली.
मोदींचा आदर्श विसरलेल्या भाजपा नेत्यांच्या प्रबोधनासाठी मोदींचा संस्थेमधील कलाविष्कार सादर करत आहोत pic.twitter.com/IwIj5dpXlV

— Sachin Sawant सचिन सावंत (@sachin_inc) December 22, 2021