Furore in Orissa Assembly over POSCO debate

Bhubaneswar, July 11 (UNI) The Opposition demand for a debate on the South Korea Steel major POSCO's mega steel project in Orissa led to furore in the Assembly today forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 45 minutes.

The Opposition, which was on its feet demanding a debate on POSCO project, rushed into the well and started shouting slogans disrupting the business of the House.

Speaker Maheswar Mohanty was forced to adjourn the House for thirty minutes as all his attempts to run the business amid din proved futile.

The House was adjourned for thirty minutes and then again for another 15 minutes to resolve the issue.The Opposition agreed to participate in the debate after they were assured by the Speaker that the debate on the POSCO project would be taken up either tomorrow or on the concluding day of the session on July 13.

The issue cropped up during the question hour when Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik,rising on a point of order drew the Speaker's attention about the fate of the adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on the POSCO project.

Mr Pattnaik insisted that the House take up the debate on the POSCO project today suspending all other business but the Speaker did not relent and went ahead with other business.

This irked the Opposition which trooped into the well and started shouting slogans in support of their demand. The House soon witnessed noisy scenes forcing the Speaker to adjourn it for 30 minutes and again later for 15 minutes.

UNI