Assembly stalled for 3rd day over coal scam

The Orissa legislative assembly witnessed a stormy session for the third consecutive day over the issue of the alleged involvement of two ministers of the state government in the multi-crore coal scam.

With the Opposition steadfast in its demand for the resignation of the two ministers and refusing to entertain any debate on the issue without the fulfillment of this demand, the house failed to transact any business.

The two ministers in the line of fire of the Opposition are Pratap Jena, the minister for school and mass education and minister for housing and urban development, Badrinarayan Patra.

The scam related to siphoning of crores of rupees through supply of coal at concessional rate to bogus small scale industries.

The state vigilance, which is currently enquiring into the matter, has arrested some officers of the corporation.

But the Opposition wants the two ministers to be punished as they served as chairman of the Orissa Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) between 2004 and 2009 before being appointed as ministers.

Bhupinder Singh, Leader of Opposition said, “We demand the resignation of the two ministers involved in the scam. Without the resignation of the two ministers, no discussion on the coal scam can be taken up on the floor of the house.”

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), however, turned the heat on the Opposition, accusing the latter of attempting to avoid a discussion on the coal scam when the state government is prepared for the same.

Raghunath Mohanty, minister for parliamentary affairs said, “The Opposition needs to clarify its stance on the coal scam- whether it is keen on a discussion on the issue on the floor of the house. It seems that the Opposition is not prepared to debate on the issue and is adopting evasive tactics at a time when the state government is ready for any discussion on the coal scam.”

Senior BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathi accused the Opposition members of withdrawing from discussion on the coal scam after moving an adjournment motion on the issue.

The Opposition MLAs should know that Rs 30 lakh is spent each day on the proceedings of the house and they cannot afford to waste the taxpayers' money by disrupting the proceedings, he stated.