Uproar in Orissa Assembly over obituary reference

Bhubaneswar,Aug 20 (UNI) The non-inclusion of jawans killed by the naxalites in the obituary reference moved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik led to uproarious scenes for some time in the Orissa Assembly.

As soon as the House assembled on the opening day of the monsoon session, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved an obituary reference to condole the death of former Deputy Speaker Chintamani Jena, former Minister Adwait Prasad Singh and former Baisinga MLA Arjun Patra.

The Chief Minister also moved the obituary reference to condole the death of Late Mr Budhia Gochhayat and Late Mr Abani Prsad Naik who had served in the Indian Army as Naiks and sacrificed their lives for the country.

Leader of opposition J B Patnaik took strong exception to the non-inclusion of 17 security personnel killed near MV 126 village on July 16 and 38 Greyhound cops of Andhra Pradesh in Balimela reservoir by the naxalites on June 29 in the list of business for obituary reference today.

Mr Pattnaik then condoled the death of the jawans killed by the naxalites while paying tribute to the demise of former Deputy Speaker Chintamani Jena, former Minister Aditya Prasad Singh, former MLA Arjun Patra and two Naik of Indian Army.

The opposition Congress members were seen on their feet and shouted at the top of their voice when Speaker Kishore Mohanty told Mr Pattnaik not to mention the names of the cops who did not figure in the list of the business.

The Speaker said the House would condole their deaths later.

But the leader of Opposition did not pay any heed to the Speaker's suggestion and said there was no harm in condoling the deaths of the jawans.

Later, cutting across party lines, the House unanimously passed the obituary references and observed two-minute silence in memory of the departed souls.

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