Stalemate continues to rock Orissa Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Mar 28 (UNI) Stalemate continued to rock the Orissa Assembly for the past one week as Opposition members stalled the proceedings for the seventh day today, demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Excise Minister Kalandi Behera.

For the past seven days, the House was unable to take up the demands for grant relating to various departments following hue and cry by the Opposition members inside the well in support of their demands.

The House witnessed scuffle between the members of the Treasury bench and the Opposition as the former wanted to run the House amid protest and slogan - shouting by the latter inside the well. The situation turned so ugly that the Speaker had to adjourn it for the day yesterday without transacting any business like the previous five days.

Today also, as the House assembled for the day, the Opposition trooped into the well and tried to disrupt the business of House, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty, however, went ahead with the question hour despite the pandemonium inside the well.

But he could not bring the situation into order as the Congress members climbed to the podium and forced him to adjourn the House for 30 minutes.

As the House reassembled after the adjournment, Chairman Raghunath Mohanty appealed to the Opposition to cooperate with the business of the hour but in vain. Orissa Gana Parishad Member Arun De, rising on a point of order, demanded that the Business Advisory Committee be convened to end the week-long stalemate in the House.

He was supported by BJD member Pradip Maharathy, who also urged the Chair to resolve the issue by convening the Business Advisory Committee.

The Opposition, however, continued their slogan against the Chief Minister and Excise Minister Kalandi Behera, who was seen absent today.

Sensing the mood of the Opposition, the Chair then adjourned the House for lunch till 1500 hours.

The Assembly reassembled after the lunch but Chairman Bikram Aaruk adjourned the House for the day at 1502 hours and announced that the demands for grant relating to the Water Resources department would be taken up and passed through guillotine on March 30.

UNI