Orissa Assembly impasse; Speaker adjourns sine die

Bhubaneswar, Nov 29 (UNI) After nine days of impasse, the Orissa Assembly was finally adjourned sine die by Speaker Maheswar Mohanty today following ruckus in the House by the Opposition since November 19 demanding a debate on their motion on the farmers issue under rule 113(b).

A determined Opposition like other days trooped into the well of the House and disrupted the business from the Question Hour forcing Speaker Maheswar Mohanty to adjourn the House twice till 1500 hours.

The House witnessed ruckus during the post-lunch session as soon as it assembled at 1500 hours to take up the Appropriation Bill as the Opposition, insisting on their demand for discussion under rule 113(b), shouted slogans and carried placards inside the well of the House.

The Opposition covered the podium with the posters obstructing the Speaker to conduct any business, but he undeterred by the Opposition onslaught asked the Ministers to lay their papers.

After the Ministers presented their paper, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty, stood up to say that the Opposition had stalled the proceedings of the Assembly for last nine days and hinted that they were planning to disrupt the business for the rest of the days of the House.

He suggested that the House be suspended for the rest of the days. The Speaker then sought the opinion of Law Minister B B Harichandan and some other members who supported the opinion of Mr Mohanty.

The Speaker then asked Government Chief whip Kishore Mohanty to move a motion in this regard and the Chief whip tabled a motion stating that the business of the House be suspended.

State Finance Minister P C Ghadei then moved the Appropriation Bill which was adopted in the House. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an announcement for the education volunteers engaged under EGS scheme.

The Speaker adjourned the House sine die after the motion moved by the government chief whip adopted by voice vote.

UNI