Speaker allows MLA to speak in Hindi in Odisha Assembly

, June 20: Odisha Assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari today allowed a Congress MLA to speak in Hindi along with Odia, though earlier in the week he had disallowed him from making a statement in that

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The law-maker from Parlakhemundi, Kengam Surya Rao, was not allowed to speak in Hindi on June 16 when he attempted to draw attention of the government to the alleged non-disbursement of assistance to the cyclone Phailin-hit farmers in his constituency.

"Though the Speaker did not allow me to speak in Hindi on June 16, today there was no objection. I spoke both in Hindi and Odia language," Rao told PTI adding a member can speak either in Odia, English or Hindi as per his choice in the House as per the Rule-186 of the Rules of Business of Odisha Legislative Assembly.

The MLA said that he was denied to speak in Hindi as not many members in the Assembly spoke that language. Therefore, there was no translator or reporter in Hindi language in the assembly to record the statements or speeches, he said.

Speaking on the matter, former Speaker Sarat Kar told reporters that the Assembly was not equipped to translate speeches or comments made in Hindi. In the past, there were members who spoke in Hindi.

PTI