Furore in Orissa Assembly over remarks on Sharad Pawar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 20 (UNI) The remarks of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member Kalpataru Das against Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in the Orissa Assembly today raised a furore with the Opposition members taking strong exception to the statement.

Rising on a point of order, Mr Das said Mr Pawar had failed to provide security to thousands of Oriyas working in Maharashtra from the attacks of a political party.

Mr Das alleged that a large number of Oriyas were tortured and assaulted during the attack but the NCP-Congress government had failed to provide them security.

He also regretted that Mr Pawar did not even mention about it during his recent visit to the state and urged Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora to direct the government to send a team to Maharashtra to inquire about it and take up the matter with the Union Home Ministry.

But the trouble began when Mr Das alleged that Mr Pawar had secretly visited Puri to set up a hotel, to which NCP member Arun Dey took strong exception and dared the BJD MLA to prove his allegation.

The Congress members were then seen on their feet as they shouted at the Treasury Bench members for dragging Mr Pawar's name in the House.

When Mr Pradip Maharathy (BJD) and his party colleague Pratap Jena also criticised the Union Agriculture Minister, the Opposition trooped into the well and lodged their protest for discussing Mr Pawar through special mention.

Soon chaos reigned in the House and the Opposition shouted at the Deputy Speaker for allowing the discussion through special mention.

Sensing the trouble, Speaker Maheswar Mohanty entered the House and controlled the situation by announcing the debate on the Adjournment Motion and calling Attention Motion.

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