Congress stalls Assembly on escalation of violence in Orissa

Bhubaneswar,Aug 27 (UNI)Opposition Congress today stalled the proceedings of the Orissa assembly demanding the suspension of the business of the house alleging escalation of communal violence in the state in the aftermath of the killing of VHP leader Laxamanda Sarswati.

The agitated members forced the chair to adjourn the house for a record eleven times both during the pre lunch and post lunch session.

Raising the issue during question hour several Congress members, rising on point of orders, said the situation in Kandhmal was getting from bad to worse and the Chief Minister failed to ensure the rule of law.

They alleged that houses were burnt,people were killed and places of worship attacked in the state but the Chief Minister was not apprising the house about the development.

Mr Patnaik had even not taken the opposition into confidence and not constituted any peace committee so far, the Opposition said Stating that it was fruitless to debate in the house when the state was burning and demanded the Speaker to suspend all business of the house.

They also demanded to form an all party committee under the leadership of Speaker to visit the trouble torn Kandhmal district to assess the situation.They also demanded resignation of the Chief Minister saying that he had no moral right to continue in power even for a moment.

The Parliamentary affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said there was no point in disrupting the proceedings of the house and appealed repeatedly to the opposition to cooperate and run the business of the house.

While in the morning session the question hour could not be taken up as the opposition Congress disrupted the proceedings by shouting slogan inside the well forcing the chair to adjourn it for four times.

The post lunch session also witnessed uproarious scenes leading to adjournment of the house for seven times. As the house reassembled after the lunch,the Speaker asked Cooperation Minister Surama Padhi for a discussion on a calling attention motion.

But Congress members Nalini Mohanty, Umesh Swain, P Panda, A P Sethi, L B Mohapatra (All Congress) and Arun Dey (NCP)trooped into the well demanding suspension of the business.

The house soon plunges into a din as ruling party members Pratap Jena, Pravat Ranjan Biswal, Ramaranjan Baliar Singh opposed the action of the congress saying that though communal violence was a matter of concern but there was no need to disrupt the proceedings of the house as the government had kept a strict vigil on the situation.

Mr Jena said the Congress party was responsible for the communal violence as they were instigating the violence.Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the house had already disussed the law and order situation and it should be allowed to run.

BJP member Karendra Majhi said the Congress Party was primarily responsible for the loss of life and property in the violence as they in league with the Christian missionaries were conspiring for the last one year to disrupt the normal life.

Irate Congress members continued their agitation inside the well and Mr Nimai Sarkar(Cong) tried to climb up the Speakers podium and snatch some papers.

However,the Orissa Advocates Clerks Welfare Fund Bill 2008, Orissa Muncipal Corporation Amendment Bill 2008,Orissa Reservation of Posts and Services (For Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) bill 2008 and the Utkal University of Culture (Amendment bill 2008 were introduced and the Orissa Excise Bill,2005, Indian Stamp (Orissa Amendment Bill 2008, Orissa Pani Panchayat Bill 2008 and the National Law University Orissa Bill 2008 were passed by voice vote in the house.

Peeved at the way the house was being run by the Speaker,the Congress members tore the papers and threw at the chair.Congress member tara Prasad Bahinipati stood up on the reporters table and shouted anti government slogans at the peak of his voice.

while he climbed up the Speaker's podium,his party colleague Nimai Sarkar broke the Speakers microphone.This led to a scuffle.

th the scurity personnel.

Finding it difficult the Speaker adjourned the house for eleven time from 10 52 to 1830 hours.

After the house reassembled,Congress Deputy leader Narasimha Misra,rising on a point of order, said Orissa was burning and the communal violence was spreading to the entire state despite the assurance of the Chief Minister.

He alleged that more than 15 people have been killed and huge property damaged.Mr.Mishra wanted to know from the government as to how VHP leader P Togadia was allowed to visit Kandhamal but Union Home Minister Sriprakash JaiswalL was advised not to visit on security reasons.

Mr Mishra alleged that the bills were introduced and passed in a hurry in a very undemocratic way and made it clear that the opposition would not be party to the undemocratic business of the house.The Congress members then staged a noisy walkout.

After the opposition Congress walked out of the House,Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made a statement on the Kandhmal situation and the house proceeded with the business of the house.

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