The State Assembly witnessed pandemonium over the chit fund row for eighth consecutive day on Wednesday and was adjourned till Thursday after leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra expressed his resentment over Minister Arun Sahu’s remark that he had gone ‘senile’ and presenting ‘baseless’ data vis-à-vis deposits in the ruling BJD’s bank account.
As soon as the House reassembled at 3 pm after three adjournments, Mishra presented six Public Accounts Committee reports and then spoke about his questions to Chief Minister and Minister Sahu’s remarks against him. He wanted that the Minister’s statement be expunged from the records of the House.
Expressing concern that Opposition is not being responded to at all in the House, Mishra said he feels as if ruling party members have a grudge against him. “When the leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak, it demoralises the House,” he said.
When he continued to speak for about 20 minutes, ruling party MlA Mahesh Sahu stood at his seat and protested Mishra’s statement saying the issue (chit fund) cannot be debated as it doesn’t concern of the House.
Speaker Niranjan Pujari asked Mishra to end his speech and called Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh to present the Water Resources Department’s Expenditure proposal. Soon, Opposition members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the Government.
Amid the ruckus, the department’s Vote-on-Account of `7247,03,70,000 was passed by voice vote. The Speaker then adjourned the Assembly till Thursday morning.