On Saturday evening, Vasai residents marched from Manickpur police station to Vasai bus stop to protest against MLA Kshitij Thakur and Ram Kadam’s assault on PSI Sachin Suryavanshi in the state assembly and against a privilege motion against editor’s of IBN Lokmat and ABP Majha raised by them.

The protest led by a priest, Father Michael G, raised the issue of the MLAs step to forcefully make the speaker accept the breach of privilege motion against Nikhil Wagle, editor of IBN Lokmat and Rajiv Khandekar, editor of ABP Majha. MLC Bhai Jagtap moved a privilege motion against editors — Nikhil Wagle of IBN Lokmat and Rajeev Khandekar of ABP Majha — for maligning the image of public representatives. “If they have called them goondas and mavalis, we call them by the same names. Pass a breach of privilege motion against us too, we have gathered here to demand resignation of the both the MLAs,” said Father Michael G.

“First they assault a public servant then they try to gag media, are we going back to autocratic rule. I call both the MLAs as goondas and mavalis, and demand that they take against us,” added Ashok Pandey, a protester.

John Pereira, another protester believes that both Thakur and Kadam should be given severe punishment. “This kind of attitude towards public servants is a shameful incident for our state, “ said Pereira.

Imran.fazal@dnaindia.net @ImranFazalDNA