The impasse in the State Assembly continued for the seventh consecutive day as members of the ruling BJD rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans like ‘Naveen Patnaik Zindabad’ at the start of the Question Hour, following which Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceedings till 3 pm.
While Congress members protested holding banners in their hands with black bands tied on their mouths, the BJP members shouted from their seats with placards in their hands, all demanding a debate on the mega chit fund scam and mining scam.The Congress had also given notice for an adjournment motion in the day on the mining scam in the State.
leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra (Congress) told reporters outside the Assembly that the ruling party has devised a plan to stall the House to evade a debate on the chit fund scam, of which Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the “villain”.The Chief Minister has been assuming “the role of Dhritarastra” as his BJD members are determined to prevent a chit fund discussion, Mishra commented, adding that the CM is destroying democracy in the State.
Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati also told reporters, “See the way the BJD members today rushed to the Well of the House shouting ‘Naveen Patnaik Zindabad.’ They are scared of debating issues in the House. This is how they want to run the House till December 1 or 2 and then get this session prorogued.”
Bahinipati questioned why the Speaker adjourned the House till 3 pm. He could have adjourned the House till 11.30 am and taken the motion for discussion as soon as the House reassembled,” he contended.BJP legislature Party leader Basant Kumar Panda also slammed the BJD members for creating uproar in the Assembly to escape the heat of discussions on the various scams.The ruling party, however, rejected the charges levelled by the Opposition.
Government Chief Whip Anant Das said The Government is not at all scared of debating issues. “The Congress and the BJP don’t want to run the House as the involvement of many of their leaders will come to the fore if the issues are debated,” he said.On the issue of the Speaker adjourning the House, Das said it is the Speaker who can answer the question. “The Speaker might have sensed the sense of the House and taken the decision accordingly,” he added.
As the Assembly reassembled after 3 pm, in an unexpected development normalcy returned to the House with the Opposition cooperating in the conduct of Government business.The House took up discussions on the Supplementary Budget demands of the Departments of the Agriculture and SC & ST Development.