Odisha assembly adjourned till Saturday

The Odisha assembly was unable to transact any business for the second day Friday as both the opposition and the ruling party members created a ruckus, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house till Saturday.

The speaker took the decision as the members did not allow the house to work throughout the day.

The opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised the chit fund scam and Agriculture Minister Pradip Maharathy's remarks against a BJP legislator Thursday while the ruling party members raised the issue of the delay in the central government aid to Odisha following cyclonic storms "Phailin" and "Hudhud".

"The ruling party members are intentionally disturbing the house proceedings...The chief minister is scared of discussing the chit fund scam issue...," Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra told reporters.

He also condemned "a senior minister" using unparliamentary language for a woman BJP legislator Thursday.

Biju Janata Dal spokesperson Pratap Jena said the party wanted to raise the issue of delay in the central assistance for the state to tackle the aftermath of "Hudhud" and "Pailin".

"We have made our stand clear earlier that the party is ready to discuss the chit fund issue at a proper forum. The opposition should come in the house and discuss the matter," said Jena.

Senior BJP leader and union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram met Radharani Panda, BJP legislator who complained about Maharathy's remarks about her.

"It is the responsibility of the speaker to ensure the safety of MLAs inside the state assembly and the chief minister is responsible for such behaviour of his minister," said Oram.