Opposition stall Assembly proceedings for the sixth day

Bhubaneswar, Mar 27 (UNI) For the sixth consecutive day today, the Orissa Assembly was adjourned without transacting any business as the Opposition stalled the proceedings of the House, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Excise Minister Kalandi Behera.

The House was adjourned thrice during the pre-lunch session and finally for the lunch till 1500 hrs as Speaker Maheshwar Mohanty failed to pacify the agitated Opposition.

The House reassembled after the lunch but the Opposition continued to occupy the well and shouted slogan amid protest from the Treasury bench members, who urged the Speaker not to adjourn the House.

Mr Mohanty expressed helplessness saying the Opposition members were creating disruption and he was forced to adjourn the House.

For some time, pandemonium prevailed in the House and the Congress members were seen snatching papers from the Excise Minister, who wanted to give a clarification to the allegation levelled against him by the Opposition as well as by a section of the press.

The House witnessed scuffle between BJD member Pratap Jena and Congressmen Anup Sai when the former tried to hit the latter inside the well.

Orissa Gana Parishad(OGP) member Arun De took a different stand when he questioned the repeated adjournment of the House and said he was prepared to participate in the discussion. BJD members Raghunath Mohanty and Pratap Jena, rising on point of orders, alleged the Opposition were frequently changing their stand and disrupting the business of the house though several problems were to be discussed.

The Speaker then allowed Finance Minister P C Ghadei and Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal to move their Bill on Fiscal Management and Land Reform Amendment Act respectively.

As Mr Behera rose to read a written statement, but was obstructed by the Opposition Congress.

Sensing the mood of the Opposition, Mr Mohanty adjouned the House for the day.

UNI