Congress to move no confidence motion against Naveen govt

Bhubaneswar, Aug 25 (UNI) The Opposition Congress would move a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led BJD-BJP alliance government in Orissa for its alleged failure on all fronts following the killing of Swami Laxamananda Sarswati in Kandhamal district on August 23.

The Swamiji along with four others was shot dead by some assailants inside the Jalaspeta Ashram on Saturday night.

Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader J B Pattnaik told newspersons here today that the Congress had already served the no confidence motion, to be moved in the House tomorrow.

He urged the BJP, the alliance partner of the government, to withdraw its support to the government for its failure to protect the life of Swamiji and maintain law and order.

Mr Pattnaik said the BJP had already said the murder of the Swamiji was a failure of the government and asked them to withdraw support to the government if they have the guts.

The Leader of Opposition demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder of the Swamiji at Jalaspeta Ashram. '' If the government was so serious to unravel the truth and punish the guilty, it should hand over the case to CBI, '' he remarked.

Mr Patnaik said the judicial inquiry, ordered by the government, was only a time-consuming process and would not serve the purpose.

He criticised the government for attributing the role of the naxalites behind the murder of Swamiji, saying the government statement was not based on facts and was deliberately made to cover up its own failure and inefficiency.

Reacting to the Opposition decision to move a no-confidence motion, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the government was ready to face it. The Chief Minister said now efforts were on to arrest the culprits and the situation was being monitored closely.

On VHP International Secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia's demand that the Chief Minister should beg public apology for the murder, Mr Patnaik said he was not aware of it.

BJP Legislature party leader B B Harichandan described Mr Togadia's statement as his personal view and said the party had nothing to do with it. He made it clear that his party would not withdraw support to the government.

UNI BD-DP SJC RN1816