Governor's intervention sought on chit fund issue in Odisha

The opposition Congress and the BJP Saturday sought the intervention of Odisha governor S.C. Jamir to allow discussion on the chit fund issue in the assembly.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari had Friday rejected the opposition notice for a debate on the chit fund issue in the house citing the opinion of the advocate general (AG), who suggested that the house could not debate the issue as the matter is pending in court.

However, the opposition parties refusing to accept the opinion of the AG, submitted memoranda to the governor Saturday.

"The speaker or chief minister thinks that the law makers elected by the people of Odisha...don't know anything. The speaker accepted the opinion of AG, who is not even a member of the house. It can only be termed as shameless and unfortunate," leader of opposition Narasingh Mishra told reporters after returning from Raj Bhavan.

Holding the AG, speaker and chief minister responsible for not allowing discussion on the chit fund issue in the house, Mishra also demanded the resignation of the AG for violating the conduct rules of the bar council.

"The AG had appeared previously as a counsel for the chit fund firm Seashore Group. Now, he has given his opinion on the issue to speaker which is violation of conduct rules of bar council. He should tender his resignation immediately," said Mishra.

The BJP also demanded the resignation of the AG. "We demanded resignation of AG and sought the intervention of governor. The AG has violated the conduct rules of Bar Council of India and Bar Association of Odisha by giving his opinion on the chit fund issue to speaker," said BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda.

He said the party would submit a memorandum to the president of India, who is on a two-day visit to the state from Saturday.

"Is the assembly to be run under the advice of the advocate general? This only exposes the partisan attitude of the speaker who chose to hide behind the convenient opinion of the AG in stalling and throttling the voice of the people on the floor of the house," said the BJP memorandum.

Blaming the opposition for stalling the house, BJD spokesperson Sameer Dash said the opposition should not challenge the ruling of the speaker.