Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday assured the State Assembly that strong action would be taken against those found responsible for the leakage of question papers of the civil constable recruitment written examinations held on Sunday.
He also assured that re-examinations would be conducted very shortly besides informing that a Crime Branch probe had been ordered into the issue.
Patnaik made a statement in this regard in the afternoon session as per the direction of the Speaker. The House had been adjourned twice in the morning as Opposition Congress and BJP members vehemently demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue.
When the House met at 10.30 am, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra raised the question leak issue and urged the Speaker to suspend the Question Hour. As Speaker Niranjan Pujari didn’t pay any heed to Mishra’s demand, Congress and BJP members, who were standing at their seats holding banners, rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the Government.
The Speaker adjourned the House at 10.32 am till 12.30 pm.
When the House reassembled at 12.30 pm, Mishra raised the issue again and said the Crime Branch probe ordered by the Government is just eyewash.
“It is a serious scam as each question paper along with answer was sold at Rs 1.60 lakh. Senior police officers are alleged to have involvement in the heinous act. Police are meant to catch thieves but when they (police) will steal who will catch them. The CB probe order is aimed at protecting the senior police officials who are involved in the crime,” Mishra said and demanded a probe by an impartial authority. He too demanded that the 19,000 plus candidates be compensated for the monetary loss they suffered due to cancellation of the examination.
The Speaker asked the State Government to make a statement on the issue by the evening.
Meanwhile, BJD member Samir Ranjan Dash raised the allegation of fraudulent land purchase against Jharsuguda Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das. Two other members too joined him on the demand.
Congress and BJP members rushed into the Well and shouted that the ruling party members were trying to divert the question leak issue. The Speaker adjourned the House at 12.48 pm till 3 pm.