Uproar in Orissa Assy over sexual escapades of minister

Bhubaneswar, Nov 27 (UNI) Uproarious scenes prevailed in the Orissa Assembly as the opposition Congress members stalled the proceedings during the Zero hour demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the alleged ''sexual escapades'' of a senior minister in Orissa Niwas at New Delhi recently.

The Opposition Congress trooped into the well and shouted slogans soon after the Zero hour forcing Speaker Kishore Mohanty to adjourn the House four times and finally for the lunch till 1500 hrs today.

Raising the issue during Zero hour on a point of order, Congress Chief Whip Satya Bhushan Sahu said the behaviour of the minister tarnished the image of the state and its people and demanded the Chief Minister to make a statement on the issue.

Soon his party colleague Jaydev Jena joined the issue but the Speaker dismissed their point of order and asked Mr Pradip Maharathy (BJD) and Mr Narayan Reddy (CPI) to raise their point of orders.

Peeved at the Speaker's ruling, the Congress members and JMM Member Bimal Lochan Das rushed into the well of the House and shouted anti-government slogans.

Sensing the mood of the Opposition, the Speaker said if the government wanted it could make a suo-motto statement on the issue but he could not force the government to give a statement''. The Speaker requested the agitated Opposition to go back to their seat and participate in the proceedings of the House.

As the opposition did not pay any heed to the appeal of the Speaker, he adjourned the House for thirty minutes at 1146 hrs. Later the house was adjourned twice till 1236 hrs.

When the House reassembled at 1236 hrs, the opposition Congress members again trooped into the well of the House and insisted on their demand.

At this the Speaker said the government was aware of the demand and requested the members to go back to their seats. He had to finally adjourn the house for lunch till 1500 hours.

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