Mumbai: The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes over a remark about `Vande Mataram' by Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi. The house was adjourned soon thereafter.
While raising the issue of a riot in the Sambhajinagar district, Azmi said 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.
The BJP MLAs took a strong exception to the statement leading to a ruckus.
Speaker Rahul Narwekar appealed 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.
(Inputs from PTI)