Stalemate in Orissa Assembly over Vedant funding

Bhubaneswar, Jul 05 (UNI) A stalemate prevailed in Orissa Assembly today over a fax letter submitted by government Chief Whip Kishore Mohanty in the House yesterday during a pandemonium over alleged funding by Vedant Trust to political parties in the state.

The Opposition which stalled proceedings yesterday alleging that Vedant Chief Anil Agarwal was trying to interfere in the business of the House,today demanded a discussion on the letter suspending all business.

Congress Chief Whip Satya Bhusan Sahu,rising on a point of order, said the prestige of the House was at stake and demanded a discussion on the letter.

The Opposition members were on their feet and started shouting slogan when Speaker Maheswar Mohanty went ahead with the question hour ignoring the Congress' demand.

At this, the agitated Opposition trooped into the well and started raising slogan in support of their demand. When the Speaker failed to bring the situation under control, he adjourned the House for one hour at 1050 AM.

It reassembled at 1150 hours to be again adjourned by Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora till 1500 hours.Noisy scenes prevailed when the House reassembled after lunch at 1500 hours with the Opposition reiterating their demand.

The Opposition soon occupied the well and raised slogan against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik disrupting the business of the House.

Mr Dora, who was on the chair, then adjourned the House for 30 minutes.He subsequently adjourned the Assembly till 1800 hours and again for another 30 minutes amid sloganering by the Opposition members inside the well.

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