The State Assembly was on Monday adjourned twice as Opposition members persisted on a ruling from the Speaker over their demand of summoning the Balangiri district Sub-Collector for reprimand for his statement to media that what the leader of Opposition had stated in the Assembly about a farmer’s suicide in the district was false. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra (Congress) told the House that the Sub-Collector, violating his protocol, stated that the allegations made by him were false.
“Is he competent to say thisIJ Mishra wanted to know.
“Yesterday, I had read out a copy of the FIR filed by the deceased farmer’s elder brother with the police. I alleged that the negative attitude of the Sub-Collector prompted the farmer to committee suicide. While officers of no less than district Collectors are required to provide answers, the Sub-Collector violated the protocol by airing views on the matter of the House. If the Chair wants, the Sub-Collector may be summoned and reprimanded,” Mishra said. He too demanded that the matter be sent to the Ethics Committee of the House.
Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati (Congress) demanded Sub-Collector be summoned to the House without any delay. “District Collectors don’t give due importance to MlAs. It is a problem all MlAs are facing now,” Bahinipati said and sought an immediate ruling from the Chair. BJP MlA KV Singh Deo said, “This is a very serious matter and needs to be addressed. The farmer committed suicide because of lackadaisical attitude of Sub-Collector.”
Congress MlA Naba Das too demanded an immediate ruling from the Chair. “When the House is in session, violation of protocol by the Sub-Collector is very disappointing,” he said. As Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi, who was in chair, said Speaker has already stated he would take a decision soon and called for discussion on the day’s Adjournment Motion, both Congress and BJP members rushed into Well of House. Marandi adjourned House at 11.45 am till 12.45 pm and again till 3 pm.
