Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS) Four legislators of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were Monday suspended for four years by the Maharashtra assembly for assaulting Samajwadi Party lawmaker Abu Asim Azmi for taking the oath as legislator in Hindi.
Besides the stringent punishment of suspending them for four years, the house also barred the four legislators - all first-timers - from entering Mumbai and Nagpur whenever the assembly sessions are held in these cities.
The four legislators are: Shishir Shinde, Ram Kadam, who had slapped and punched SP member Azmi, Vasant Gite and Ramesh Banjle.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshavardhan Patil moved the proposal to take action against the rampaging MNS members for attacking Azmi inside the house, an unprecedented happening in the state's history.
The proposal was moved Monday evening and passed by the house, Protem Speaker Ganpatrao Deshmukh announced.
The developments come as the state of Maharashtra celebrates its golden year of formation this year, and the new assembly holds its first three-day session after the October elections.
Kadam was seen on live television slapping and punching Azmi, even as the other MNS legislators indulged in fisticuffs, pushing around Azmi and others who attempted to come to his aid.
Softening his stance, MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar Monday evening apologized to the members for insulting the dignity of the house.
The MNS legislators attacked Azmi for defying the party's diktat of taking the oath only in Marathi.