Opposition demands removal of Orissa Speaker

Bhubaneswar, Mar 19 (UNI) The Opposition Congress and CPI today demanded removal of Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty in the wake of a criminal case filed against him at the direction of the State Election Commission(SEC) for violation of code of conduct.

A delegation of Opposition MLAs comprising 18 from the Congress and one from the CPI, led by leader of Opposition in the Assembly J B Pattnaik, today met Governor Rameswar Thakur and urged him no to share the podium with the Speaker while addressing the session of the house beginning here on March 21 next.

The delegation apprised the Governor that the Speaker had lost his moral right to continue his post after being indicted by the SEC for blatant violation of code of conduct. A criminal case has already been instituted against him and crime branch inquiry also ordered into the incident, they told the Governor.

The Governor, who gave a patient hearing, told the delegation that he would convey their feelings to the government.

Later talking to newsmen the Leader of Opposition said they had placed their demands before the Governor and urged him to remove the Speaker before the session begins in March 21.

The Opposition Congress had already submitted a no confidence motion against the Speaker and announced that they would not participate any proceedings of the House as long as Mr Mohanty occupied the chair.

Asked to comment on the Opposition decision and the meeting with the Governor, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty said he has all respect and regards for the Opposition and particularly the leader of the Opposition.

He, however, refused to give his comment on the Opposition demand stating that whatever he would say would be placed in the house and not outside the Assembly.

UNI