Opposition stages walkout over debate on lawyers agitation

Bhubaneswar, Mar 11 (UNI) The entire Opposition in Orissa Assembly today staged a noisy walkout demanding a debate on the lawyers agitation over setting up of a High court bench in Western Southern parts of the state.

The issue was raised during the zero hour by Congress Chief whip Satya Bhusan Sahu, who demanded that their adjournment motion on the lawyers agitation be taken up.

Mr Sahu said they have submitted an adjournment motion on mining in Niyamgiri hill, but it was disallowed on the ground that the concerned Minister, who was to reply on the debate, was away in Delhi.

He then pressed that another adjournment motion on the strike by the lawyers at various places be taken up today. As the Speaker refused to entertain the adjournment, the Opposition rushed into the well and started raising slogan.

The Speaker called for BJD Member Kalpataru Das to move his special mention and as soon as Mr Das finished his special mention on the security breach of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in Koraput, the Speaker adjourned the House till 1500 hours.

When the House reassembled, Congress Deputy leader Narashingh Mishra, rising on a point of order, said, '' the Oppositions are neglected as their adjournment motions are not being taken up for discussion in the House.'' He described the ongoing lawyers agitation as a serious issue in the state as functioning in the courts at various places had been paralysed following the agitation and said the matter justified a debate in the House.

Mr Mishra then announced the decision to walkout of the House in protest against the ''undemocratic action of the Speaker. Soon the Opposition staged a walkout of the House.

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