Scuffle in Orissa Assembly, House adjourned to 1500 hours

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (UNI) For the third consecutive day today, the Orissa Assembly witnessed furore, leading to a scuffle between the Treasury bench members and Opposition members, and the House was adjourned thrice over the Opposition's demand for a special debate on the naxal attack in Nayagarh.

The trouble started right from the Question Hour with the adamant Opposition occupying the well and shouting slogans in support of their demand after Speaker Maheswar Mohanty refused to suspend the business of the House.

As the din continued inside the well, the Speaker first adjourned the House for 30 minutes. The House met after the adjournment but was again adjourned till 1200 hours by Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora.

Later, it reassembled again, only to be adjourned till lunch, upto 1500 hours, without transacting any business.

As the House assembled for the day to take up the Question Hour business, Leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik stood up and reiterated the demand for a special debate on the naxalites attack, suspending the business of the House.

The Speaker, however, requested the Opposition to cooperate with the business of the House and participate in the Question Hour. The trouble started when Government Chief Whip Kishore Mohanty rose to say something to the Opposition members.

Congress MLA Nimai Sarkar rushed to him while other members trooped into the well shouting slogans in support of their demand.

At this, the members from the Treasury bench also entered into the well to counter the Opposition.

Soon a scuffle took place inside the well between the Opposition members and Treasury bench members which continued for few minutes throwing the House into total disorder.

Sensing the trouble, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

When the House reassembled after the adjournment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said the government was willing to discuss the naxal issue but not at this juncture and appealed to the Opposition that the matter would be taken up after the situation returned to normal.

The agitated Opposition, however, remained adamant in its stand and shouted slogans. The House soon plunged into a chaotic situation with the Opposition and Treasury bench members indulging in wordy duels over the issue.

Sensing the situation going out of control, Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora, who was then on the Chair, adjourned the House till 1200 hours. The House was finally adjourned thrice till 1500 hours as the din continued and the Deputy Speaker failed to bring it into order.

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