Speaker resign to uphold the dignity-Naveen

Bhubaneswar, Mar 31 (UNI) Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said that Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheswar Mohanty's resignation was to uphold the dignity of the House, Defending the Speaker's action, Mr Patnaik said since Mr Mohanty was feeling uncomfortable with the behaviour of certain sections of the members, the problem began. He sent in his resignation to the Deputy Speaker to uphold the dignity of office of the Speaker, Mr Patnaik told reporters at his residence this evening.

He said he had written to the Governor M C Bhandare to remove Information and Public Relations Minister Debasis Naik from the Council of Ministers as he no longer had his confidence.

Mr Patnaik recommended the Governor to sack Mr Naik after it was alleged that the Minister was behind the sexual harassment allegation made by Assembly lady Marshal Gayatri Panda against Speaker Maheswar Mohanty.

The issue has snowballed into a major issue with opposition members stalling the proceedings of the house for five days demanding the resignation of the Speaker and an impartial inquiry into the incident.

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