Bhandare wants a change in ''walk out'' concept in Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Dec 05 (UNI) How do we look after our temple of democracy? ''Do we run away from it or enter it,sit there and pray and do all our jobs sincerely as honourable members of Assembly''.

These remarks were made by Orissa Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare when asked by newsmen about his comment on the winter session of the Orissa Assembly being adjourned sine die,18 days ahead of its schedule sittings.

Mr Bhandare said he wanted to change the culture of the walking out in the Assembly. It should be on the other hand the walking in,he remarked.

The Governor said if the members wanted to walk out of the House they could do so but for only few minutes. They(members) could get out from one door and get in through another door.

On the frequent disruption of the business in the Assembly, Mr Bhandare said the proceedings should not be held up and the tax payers money should not be wasted.

The Governor's remark has assumed much significance in the context of the Orissa Assembly being adjourned sine die on November 29 by Speaker Maheswar Mohanty following disruption of the House for nine days in a row by the Opposition. The Orissa cabinet later decided to prorogue it.

The Opposition,however, described the action of the Speaker as against the ethics of parliamentary practice and urged the Governor to intervene on the abrupt ending of the winter session of the Assembly which must have a mandatory sitting of sixty days in a calendar year.

Mr Bhandare had already discussed the matter with Chief Minister (also leader of the Assembly) Naveen Patnaik and the leaders of the Opposition parties.

He, however, declined to comment on the decision of the cabinet to prorogue the house after it was adjourned sine die.

The Governor said the House should be treated as model of democracy which means debate and only debate and nothing else.

UNI