Congress demands dismissal of Naveen Patnaik govt

Bhubaneswar, Nov 29 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Orissa Assembly and senior Congress leader J B Patnaik today urged Governor M C Bhandare to dismiss the Naveen Patnaik government for the constitutional crisis in the state.

Mr Patnaik told newspersons that a constitutional impasse had arisen as Speaker Maheswar Mohanty adjourned the house sine die today, 15 days prior to its schedule date, ignoring all rules and regulations of the parliamentary practice.

He said the government Chief Whip moved a motion to squeeze the mandatory provision to conduct the business of the house for 60 days in a calendar year in a most ''undemocratic'' manner and the motion was adopted in the house due to the passive majority of the ruling alliance.

The rule, to inform the members at least seven days prior to the adjournment, was also not followed, he said and urged the Governor to intervene into the matter.

The Congress leader said the Speaker had also adjourned the house sine die in a similar way on December 8, 2005.

Mr Patnaik said a delegation of the Congress leaders led by him would soon submit a memorandum to the Governor, protesting against abrupt adjournment of the house.

The Opposition had been disrupting the house since the beginning of the winter session on April 19, demanding a discussion on their motion on police action on farmers under Rule 113(b), which has a provision for voting.

UNI