BJP stalls Orissa Assembly over VHP leader's killing

Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 (UNI) Agitated BJP members today stalled Orissa Assembly proceedings during the Question Hour, protesting against the killing of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmananada Saraswati by unknown assailants, forcing Speaker Kishore Mohanty to adjourn the House for one hour.

The trouble started as soon as the House passed the obituary reference on the death of a former member and the police personnel who laid down their lives fighting against the Naxalites, to take up the Question Hour at 1100 hs.

Most of the BJP members present in the House rushed into the well and started raising slogans, condemning the killing of the VHP leader.

The Speaker, however, requested them to return to their seats and assured to listen to them after the Question Hour, but the BJP members refused to pay any heed to the Speaker's appeal and continued their slogans, shouting inside the well.

The BJP members demanded that the House be adjourned in view of Orissa bandh.

Incidentally, the BJP has extended its support to the bandh called by the VHP, Bajrang Dal and several Hindu outfits, condemning the killing of the VHP leader and four others by unknown assailants at Jalaspeta Ashram in Kandhmal district on the night of August 23.

Mr Mohanty then asked Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik to speak as he was seen drawing the Speaker's attention to raise a point of order.

Mr Pattnaik, while expressing concern over the killing of the Swamiji and the deteriorating law and order situation, said the Opposition had moved an Adjournment Motion to debate the issue and urged the Speaker to suspend the Question Hour and take up the Adjournment Motion.

As the din continued inside the well and the Congress members asked the BJP members to withdraw from the government.

Unable to bring the situation under control, the Speaker then adjourned the House for one hour.

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