The situation in the State Assembly on Tuesday went the way of the previous four days as both Opposition and Treasury Benches continued with their protests over their respective issues.
Opposition Congress and BJP walked out of the House accusing the Speaker of delaying a debate on the multi-crore chit fund scam
As soon as the House convened for the day, Opposition members vociferously protested against the denial of an opportunity to discuss issues like the chit fund, house and coal scams.
Soon, as on the previous days, ruling BJD members rushed to the Well of the House raising their pet slogans against the Centre for its alleged step-motherly attitude towards the State in giving assistance for rehabilitation work in areas affected by Cyclone Hudhud this year and Phailin last year and the Polavaram issue.
As the protesting members continued with their slogan shouting, Speaker Niranajn Pujari adjourned the House repeatedly.
The Speaker said he has been waiting for views of the Advocate General on the chit fund issue as it is sub-judice. “I hope to receive advice of the AG soon. Then only, I can take a decision on the matter,” Pujari said. Congress leader Mishra, who is also a lawyer by profession, argued that there was no hurdle before the Speaker to allow the debate as the same subject had been discussed in the House in the previous Assembly.
“Then, the House discussed on the chit fund scam when the matter was in fact sub-judice. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has adjudicated the matter and allowed the CBI to probe the matter,” Mishra pointed out.
Outside the House, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra hit out at the BJD, remarking that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is “imparting training” to the ruling party members to play the role of Opposition as the BJD is set to assume this position in the Assembly soon after long years of rule. “They have realised that their long stint in power is nearing an end. Perhaps, that is why they are practising their role as Opposition members,” he said.
“It is the responsibility of the ruling party to run the House smoothly. But if those who should have a stake in smooth running of the House themselves disrupt the proceedings, how can the House runIJ” he asked, adding that the BJD’s game plan was to prevent a debate on the chit fund scam, which has exposed many ruling party leaders.
leader of the BJP legislature Party Basanta Kummar Panda also accused the ruling party of running away from a debate on the chit fund scam.
The peeved Opposition boycotted the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee convened by the Speaker to find a way out of the impasse in protest against what they called the Speaker’s failure to take the Opposition into confidence.
‘CM fears scam debate; Speaker under pressure’
Referring to the ruling BJD members’ unruly conduct in the Assembly for days on end, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Tuesday said the Government is getting increasingly nervous and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is losing the balance of his mind in handling the essence relating to the business of the House.
The BJD is so terrified that it is adopting all possible tactics to prevent debates on the issues like the chit fund scam in any form in the House, he told reporters.
On Monday, Mishra said, the Speaker had called a House Business Advisory Committee meeting where there were three motions, one by the Congress; another by the BJP; and the third one by the BJD itself. But the BJD members did not agree to take up any of the motions including their own, for discussion.
On Tuesday again, a Business Advisory Committee meeting was called, but the entire Opposition decided to abstain from it because of the dictatorial attitude of the Chief Minister, who is dictating terms in all matters in and outside the House. The Chief Minister is in no mind to accept any suggestion of the Opposition as he smells threat to his image, Mishra said.
Opposition members were absolutely silent when they stood at their seats and protested against not being allowed to raise the scams, but the ruling party members disrupted the House at the behest of the Chief Minister. This only speaks of his fear psychosis and apprehension of being grilled by the CBI in the chit fund fraud, he said.
“We also feel the Hon’able Speaker is acting under pressure due to the Chief Minister’s dictatorial attitude,” Mishra said.
He said it is mandatory that the Assembly meets for a minimum 60 working days in a year. But now, at the behest of the Chief Minister the rule is going to be amended to suit his convenience and the Assembly’s current session might be adjourned at any time before the schedule. The Chief Minister thinks the whole world is fool and he is the only wise man.