Sexual harassment against Orissa Speaker;House adjourned for the d

Bhubaneswar, Mar 26 (UNI) The allegation of sexual harassment against Speaker Maheswar Mohanty by Orissa Assembly Assistant Marshal Gayatri Panda today saw the House adjourned for the day after series of adjournments without transacting any business.

The House was first adjourned at 1042 hours after the Speaker made a statement describing the allegation levelled against him by the woman employee as ''false and baseless'' and said there had been a 'deep conspiracy' against him hatched by several influential and important people.

An inquiry should be ordered into the incident to bring out the truth, the Speaker said and suggested that the House Committee be constituted to probe into the matter.

Mr Mohanty said he was prepared to depose before the House Committee, adding he felt it would be not proper in his part to sit and preside over the House till the truth was out.

Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora, who replaced the Speaker to conduct the business of the House, however, could not proceed with the business as the members from both Opposition and Treasury bench insisted that the House be adjourned first and the matter be discussed in the Speaker's chamber as it involved the dignity of the House.

Mr Dora first adjourned the House for 30 minutes and then went on announcing series of adjournments both during the pre-lunch and post -lunch session.

The House was finally adjourned for the day at 1800 hours without conducting any business.

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