With the Opposition persistently demanding resignation of Advocate General (AG) Surya Prasad Mishra for his opinion against holding debate on the chit fund scam in the State Assembly and the ruling BJD trying to shout the Opposition down, the House could not transact any business for the ninth consecutive day of its current session on Saturday.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, Opposition members both from the Congress and the BJP rushed to the Well of the House carrying banners on the chit fund scam. And soon, BJD members also trooped into the Well to protest against the Opposition’s act. Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 3 pm.

The Congress and the BJP blamed the ruling party for not allowing the House to run and headed for the Raj Bhavan and submitted separate memorandums to Governor SC Jamir. leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra (Congress) told reporters that the Governor assured of considering the Opposition’s viewpoints. The Opposition sharply targeted the Advocate General for his opinion against any debate on the chit fund issue in the House stating that it is sub-judice.

leader of Opposition Mishra alleged that the Advocate General was a lawyer for the Seashore Group, a key player in the chit fund scam, before becoming the AG and, hence, should have refrained from giving an opinion on the chit fund issue.

“Both propriety and law demanded that he should have desisted from giving an opinion on the issue because of his past association with it,” Mishra said. The AG has acted against the norms set by the Bar Council of India, he said.

“If the Speaker and the Chief Minister think that the 147 members of this House elected by the people to frame laws are fools and do not know anything and the House will run on the opinion of a person who is not a member of the House, they are sadly mistaken. What can be more shameful and unfortunate than thisIJ” the leader of Opposition asked while speaking to reporters. BJP legislature Party leader Basant Panda too lambasted the Government and the AG in similar terms.

“lawyers should abide by moral responsibilities. No lawyer can practise without sticking to moral responsibilities bestowed on him. Even the Bar Council of India has prescribed rules for this and so has

 the Bar Association. The way the AG gave his advice considering us 147 elected members as fools and incompetent and the way the honourable Speaker acted on his advice is condemnable and unfortunate,” Panda said. He said the BJP would meet President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day visit to the State, on the issue.

BJD spokesperson and MlA Samir Dash, however, defended the Speaker’s ruling saying, “Did the Opposition expect the AG to give his opinion the way it wantedIJ The Speaker had sought the AG’s opinion and he gave his considered view, which should be accepted by everyone in the House.”

Under the circumstances, the Opposition later in the day boycotted an all-party meeting called by the Speaker to resolve the logjam in the House.