The State Assembly was adjourned thrice on Monday as Opposition Congress and BJP members trouped into the Well of the House and kept demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on all allegations of corruption in the Agriculture Department.
The House was first adjourned at 10.36 am till 11.36 am. When the House reassembled, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said while the Agriculture Minister has admitted in the House that the Assistant Director of Horticulture, Mayurbhanj has misappropriated public money to the tune of Rs 17.33 core, it is disappointing that no stringent action was taken against him. He was merely suspended and then reinstated.
“If a temporary punishment of suspension is awarded in such a corruption case involving crores of rupees, officers would fearlessly misappropriate public funds. It means that the Government itself is involved in the corruption,” Mishra said and demanded a statement from either the Chief Minister or the Minister.
BJP Legislature Party Leader KV Singh Deo supported the issue and the demand raised by Mishra.
As Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat didn't give a ruling, Opposition members trouped into the Well of the House again and shouted slogans against the State Government.
Unable to run proceedings, Amat adjourned the House at 11.55 am till 12.10 pm. As the situation continued, Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi adjourned the House for the third time till12.25 pm.
However, normalcy restored at 12.25pm as the Speaker directed the Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Minister to look into the issues raised by the Leader of Opposition and other Opposition members and respond to them.