The State Assembly witnessed two adjournments on Thursday over Bargarh Cooperative Society election issue. leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Thursday moved a privilege motion against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accusing him of violating rules of procedure and conduct of business in the House relating to kidnapping of Sugri Ranbida of Bargarh.
Raising the kidnapping issue during the Zero Hour, the leader of Opposition said although as per the complaint of Ranbida, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria engineered the kidnapping to rig the cooperative polls and a police complaint was lodged against her, no action was taken against her.
Mishra said Ranbida’s kidnapping was reported at the Rusuda Outpost on January 25. However, the complaint which mentioned the Minister’s name was not entertained and, surprisingly, the date of the FIR was found overwritten as January 26 and a case was registered on January 29.
Stating that the police had swung into action after he raised the issue in a Special Mention in the Assembly on February 9, the leader of Opposition said the promptness of police somehow slowed down after it received a mysterious phone call on Wednesday. “The police were bringing the victim to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to identify the Minister’s house where he was kept in captivity. However, at Bargarh, the police sent the man back to his house after receiving a mysterious phone call,” Mishra said.
“Even though I had raised this issue on February 9, the Government is yet to make a statement in the House. I want that the Chief Minister, who holds the Home Department portfolio, be summoned and make a statement,” Mishra demanded.
When the Speaker said he would examine the matter, Congress members rushed into the Well of the House and started shouting over the issue. Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House first at 11.43 am till 12.15 pm and then from 12.16 pm to 12.31 pm.
Before the first adjournment, Government Chief Whip Anant Das said the Opposition Congress is trying to stall the Assembly raising a non issue.
When the Assembly reassembled at 12.30 pm, the leader of Opposition said, “As this is a serious issue, I hope the Chief Minister would reply to this, today or tomorrow.”
After giving the leader of Opposition a patient hearing, Speaker Pujari directed the State Government to give a statement on the floor of the House by Friday.
BJP, Cong stage walkout over paddy distress sale
Bhubaneswar: Both Opposition Congress and BJP on Thursday expressed strong resentments in the State Assembly over distress sale of paddy going unabated across the State hitting the poor farmers hard.
To mark their concern, members of both the parties staged walkouts after rejecting Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sanjay Kumar Dasburma’s reply in this regard.
Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati raised the issue in an Adjournment Motion for a debate and charged that not a single mandi had been opened in Ganjam, the Chief Minister’s home district. “If the Government proves it wrong then I will retire from politics,” said the Congress Chief Whip. However, Minister Dasburma rubbished the allegation and told mediapersons outside the House that every possible measure has been taken to check distress sale of paddy.