BJD member says sorry;raises letter issue

New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) After failing in his attempt yesterday to raise an issue for which he felt sorry today in the Lok Sabha, Arjuncharan Sethi(BJD) today charged a Central Minister with interfering in the functioning in Orissa state assembly.

Declining permission to table the purported letter, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, however, said the matter called for an introspection by presiding officers of state assemblies. He said he could not compel the Minister to withdraw the letter written in his capacity as party leader and not a Minister of Central government.

Sethi alleged that the Minister had written the letter to his party MLAs, asking them not to allow Orissa assembly to function until a particular issue was raised in the state House.

The BJD member, who had yesterday walked to the well of the House when disallowed to raise the matter, today said his action was uncalled for and expressed regret.

UNI