Furore in Assembly over EC's showcause to Revenue Minister

Bhubaneswar, Nov 23 (UNI) Opposition Congress today stalled Assembly proceedings demanding resignation of Revenue Minister Manmohan Samal following a showcause notice issued against him by the Election Commission in the violation of code of conduct during the by-poll to the Talsara (ST) Assembly seat.

The House was adjourned thrice and finally for lunch as the Opposition trooped into the well and shouted slogans against Mr Samal and urged the government to dismiss him.

Trouble began during the zero hour when Congress Chief Whip S B Sahu raised the issue drawing Speaker Maheswar Mohanty's attention to the recent showcause notice issued against Mr Samal and demanded a debate on it.

The Speaker said the issue was raised earlier by the members and he had told the House that the matter would be examined by him to find out under what forum it could be discussed.

This, however, did not pacify Congress members who were seen on their feet demanding a debate on the issue suspending the business of the House.

Congress members Padmalochan Panda and Ananta Prasad Sethy showed a newspaper which carried the story asking the Revenue Minister to showcause on the alleged violation of thw code of conduct.

The Opposition then rushed into the well as the Speaker did not pay any heed to their demand and the House witnessed a furore with the Congress members raising slogans inside the well.

The Speaker then adjourned the House for 20 minutes. Subsequently, the House was adjourned for one hour and finally for lunch till 1500 hours by Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora.

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