Odisha assembly paralysed over Oppn call for AG's resignation

The state assembly witnessed an uproarious scene on the ninth day with the Opposition Congress and BJP MLAs demanding the resignation of the Advocate General (AG) Surya Prasad Mishra.

The Opposition's ire stemmed from disallowing a debate on the chit fund scam by Niranjan Pujari on Friday on the strength of advice by the AG.

Soon after the house reopened to commence its business, Opposition members both from the Congress and the BJP rushed into the well of the House carrying banners on the chit fund scam. The members of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) also followed suit, creating an unruly scene that forced the speaker to adjourn the house till 3 pm.

Later, both the Congress and BJP MLAs met the Governor S C Jamir, submitting him a memorandum, seeking removal of the incumbent AG.

"In the interest of democracy, we have requested the Governor to look into our demand. We have pressed for the AG's removal", said state BJP president K V Singhdeo.

Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Narsingha Mishra said, "Laws and constitutional provisions have been violated on the floor of the house. The chief minister, speaker and the AG are responsible for it. We have demanded the AG's resignation since he was the counsel for the scam tainted Seashore Group before his appointment. Both propriety and law demanded that the AG should have refrained from giving an opinion on the issue because of his past association with it".

Basant Panda, speaker of the BJP legislature party said, "No lawyer can practice without sticking to moral responsibilities bestowed on him. The manner in which the AG gave his advice and the speaker accepted it is unfortunate and it has to be condemned".

Panda said, a delegation of the BJP was scheduled to meet President Pranab Mukherjee (on an Odisha visit) later today to apprise him on the prevailing situation in the assembly and attempts by the ruling BJD to stifle the Opposition's voice.

The BJP workers also gheraoed the residence of the AG in Cuttack.

When the house reassembled for business, the pandemonium prevailed as usual and the speaker adjourned the house first till 4 pm and later till Monday.

However, the house adopted the supplementary debate of the revenue department through the guillotine before the House was adjourned till Monday.

BJD MLA and the party's spokesperson Sami Dash defended the speaker's ruling. "The speaker had sought the AG's advice and gave his considered ruling. His ruling should be acceptable to everyone".

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