Stalls Assembly, demands statement from CM
The issue of child sale in the capital city of Bhubaneswar rocked the State Assembly on Thursday with the opposition Congress and BJP describing the incident as “shame” for the State and the 14-year-old BJD regime.
The opposition parties demanded an immediate statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Both Congress and BJP members trooped to the Well of the House in support of their demand shouting anti-Government slogans and demonstrated before the Speaker’s podium forcing the Chair to adjourn the House during the Zero Hour for ten minutes.
Raising the issue, Congress member Naba Kishore Das said the incidents of child sales which were common phenomena in the western Odisha districts of Kalahandi and Balangir in the 1980s and 90s now occur even in the State capital exposing the so-called development model of the BJD Government. The sale of a child by parents out of hunger is nothing but a shame for the State and for the Government led by Naveen Patnaik, he said.
On another issue, Das, referring to the media reports about the decisions of the State Cabinet held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, said the Government has a scant respect for the Assembly and its members. Though the cabinet met while the Assembly was in session, the Government did not take the House into confidence, which he described as “undemocratic”. Das sought a ruling on the issue from Speaker Niranjan Pujari.
He also demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on both the issue of child sale and disrespecting the House in not informing it on the Cabinet decisions.
Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati also insisted on a direction from the Speaker to the Chief Minister to issue a statement on the alleged child sale. He then led his party colleagues to the Well in support of his demand.
BJP legislature Party leader Basanta Kumar Panda and his party colleague Radharani Panda also criticised the Government for the sale of child in Bhubaneswar. Stating that spread of liquor is the main cause of poverty and the sale of the child by the parents is its outcome, the BJP members demanded that the Government impose prohibition in the State. They sought a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue of prohibition in the State.
When the House resumed its business, leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra also slammed the Government for the child sale in the capital city and dubbed it as a “shame” for Odisha.
Mishra lamented that even after 67 years of Independence, sale of children by parents out of poverty is occurring in the State. He urged the Chief Minister or any other concerned Minister to make a statement on the issue.
On the media reports of the Cabinet decisions, Mishra also criticised the Government for undermining the privilege of the Assembly and its members. Stating that the Government is deviating from the parliamentary practices to inform the House about the Cabinet decisions taken during Assembly session, Mishra sought the Speaker’s intervention in the issue.