The State Assembly on Thursday witnessed pandemonium over the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case.
Congress and BJP members created the ruckus in the Assembly to counter each other and did not allow the House to function smoothly.
Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukhs had to adjourn the House thrice, finally till 4 pm.
Raising the issue, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that since the BJP came to power at the Centre, it has deliberately been harassing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Although no case has been filed against the Gandhis, the ED has been issuing notices just to harass them.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said the Constitution and democracy have gone into the dustbin. The Central Government is using the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to suppress the voice of opposition.
Protesting the summons to the Gandhis, the Congress members trooped into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the Modi Government.
To counter the Congress members, the BJP members also went to the Speaker’s podium and shouted slogans.
BJP Deputy Leader Bishnu Sethi said it is a matter of regret that the Congress members are raising an issue which does not come under the ambit of the State legislature.
BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said the issue of ED and the Central Government cannot be raised in the Assembly.