Pandemonium in Assembly over remarks on Rahul Gandhi

Bhubaneswar, Mar 12 (UNI) The Orissa Assembly witnessed pandemonium today over remarks made by some Treasury bench members yesterday against AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi forcing Speaker Maheswar Mohanty to adjourn the House till 1200 hours.

Demanding an apology from the Treasury bench members and expunging of all the derogatory remarks made against Mr.Gandhi,the Opposition Congress members rushed into the well, shouted slogans and disrupted the business right from the question hour.

Congress members Debases Pataki, Chiranjivi Basal and Nimai Sarkar occupied the reporters' chair and snatched away the calling bell of the Speaker.

They then tried to snatch the Speaker's microphone from the podium but were prevented by the Marshal.As complete chaos prevailed in the House,the Speaker finding no other option adjourned the House till 1200 hours.

As the House assembled for the day to take up the Question Hour, leader of Opposition J B Pattnaik stood up and demanded that the 'unparliamentary' remarks made by some Treasury bench members in the House yesterday be expunged.He also demanded an apology from the members who passed such remarks.

Mr. Pattnaiki said Mr Gandhi, a respectable leader of the Congress party, completed his tour of the state smoothly but the Speaker allowed a special discussion on his visit during which the Treasury bench members indulged in his character assassination.

When the Speaker said he would look into the matter, the Congress members rushed into the well and demanded an immediate ruling.Soon the House plunged into pandemonium with the Opposition raising slogans at the peak of their voice.

However, Government Chief Whip Kishore Mohanty and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty urged the Speaker to conduct the Question Hour as per schedule and then take up a discussion on the issue.

The Speaker also pleaded with the members to participate in the business of the House. But the agitated opposition was not in a mood to listen to his request.

Finding no other alternative the Speaker adjourned the House for 30 minutes at 1042 hours.As the House reassembled Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora again adjourned it till 1200hrs.

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