Opposition boycott Orissa Assembly for second day

Bhubaneswar, Mar 31 (UNI) The Opposition in Orissa Assembly boycotted the House for the second day today after disrupting the business proceedings for eight long days demanding resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik and Excise Minister Kalindi Behera.

The budget session of the Assembly had been witnessing an unprecedented pandemonium since March 21 forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for the whole day after series of adjournments as the Opposition insisted on resignation of the Chief Minister and the Excise Minister.

The House witnessed an ugly scene yesterday when Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati fell unconscious during a demonstration inside the well in support of the Opposition demand.

This led the entire Opposition to boycott the session yesterday stating that they were feeling insecure inside the House. The Opposition also boycotted the session for the second day and announced that they would continue to boycott the session till they were assured of full security to their lives.

Speaker Maheswar Mohanty adjourned the house twice to find out an amicable solution to the ten day stalemate but in vain. He then finally adjourned the House till lunch. The House could only discuss the question hour in presence of the treasury bench members.

Later Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik told newsmen at his Assembly chamber that the government and the Speaker were responsible for the situation prevailing in the House. He said three Congress members had been assaulted during the session and the Speaker did nothing to come to the rescue of the Opposition despite written complaint submitted before him.

Mr Pattnaik said while Mr Padmalochan Panda was assaulted by the police at the entrance gate, another member Anup Sai was hit by BJD member Pratap Jena inside the House in presence of the Speaker.

Similarly in another incident yesterday, the watch and ward staff of the Assembly pushed Taraprasad Bahinipati who was later admitted in a hospital in an unconscious state.

He further said it was most unfortunate that after the entire Opposition boycotted the House yesterday, the treasury bench members and the Ministers started abusing and criticising the Opposition and the Speaker allowed such discussion.

The leader of Opposition also alleged that the Speaker had violated all parliamentary norms and regulation in postponing the discussion on the demands for grant for various departments without moving any motion as prescribed in the parliamentary practice.

UNI