Assly adjourned amidst uproar by ruling party, oppn members

The winter session of the state assembly was stalled for the fourth consecutive day since it began on November 20, as members of both ruling and opposition parties tried to disrupt the proceedings over allegations and counter allegations on varied issues.

Few minutes into question hour this morning, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members stood up on their seats and shouted slogans and displayed banners denouncing the current and previous Central governments for not providing adequate financial assistance for restoration and rehabilitation work in the areas affected by cyclone Phailin last year and Hudhud earlier this year.

They also criticised the Central government for ignoring the interest of Odisha while allowing construction of Polavaram dam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to submerge large tracts of land in the state.

With the assembly plunging into din, Speaker, Niranjan Pujari adjourned the house till 3 pm. Later, when the house reconvened, the Congress legislators went on a rampage, throwing banners at and breaking mike on the Speaker's podium, as they protested his refusal to allow a motion for discussion on the chit fund scam issue on the floor.

As the ruckus continued for long, the Speaker adjourned the house for the day and ordered that it will be reconvened tomorrow. Still, the government was able to pass the Odisha Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill and introduced the Odisha Religious Endowments (Amendment) Bill amidst the uproar.

The business advisory committee of the Odisha Assembly convened by Pujari in the afternoon failed to resolve the impasse as Congress walked out of the meeting accusing the Speaker of not keeping his promise of allowing a discussion on chit fund scam.

"There is complete despondency inside and outside of the house. The government is clearly afraid of discussing the chit fund issue in the house. I hope the Chair (Speaker) would conduct the business of the house in a fair manner," said Narasimha Mishra, Leader of Opposition in state assembly.

Last week, the Opposition had introduced a motion to discuss the chit fund scam in the assembly starting today soon after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioned a key aide of chief minister in connection with chit fund money trail. Though the treasury bench members had agreed to discuss the issue, Congress said, the Speaker did not let the discussion take place in the name of formalities. Pujari, however, denied the allegations levelled by the main Opposition party. "Since it involved a matter of procedural law, I have decided to seek the Advocate General's opinion on it," he said.

Several chit fund related cases are currently under trial at the special courts set up by the state government and CBI court.

State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected the argument of Speaker saying there were ample instances where the assembly and parliament have discussed issues that were sub-judice.