Cong accuses Odisha govt of attempting to shield minister

The Odisha Assembly was disrupted today as opposition Congress MLAs stormed into the well accusing the state government of trying to shield a minister allegedly involved in an abduction case and sought clarification from the chief minister.
The Speaker asked the Government to give a statement tomorrow in the House on the issue.
The House witnessed pandemonium after Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra slammed the government over the alleged abduction of one Sugri Ranbida in Rusuda area of Bargarh district and said he has submitted a privilege notice on the issue in view of government's inaction.
Congress MLAs sought to know how state Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Minister Snehangini Chhuria's name was not included in the FIR registered by the police though her name was mentioned in the complaint.

"Exclusion of the minister's name from the case shows there is an attempt to shield her," Mishra said.
As Congress legislators stormed into the well amid noisy scenes, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 12.15 PM and again till 12.30 PM.

When the House reassembled after the second adjournment, the Speaker directed the Government to give a statement on the issue in the Assembly tomorrow.
In his privilege notice, Mishra said he had made a special mention on Feberuary 9 under Rule 116-D of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Odisha Assembly on kidnapping of Sugri, which was reported before the OIC, Rusuda outpost on January 25.

The Congress leader sought to know why police did not register a case on January 25 and what action was taken against the OIC for not registering the case in violation of the law and directions of the Supreme Court.
Mishra wanted to know why Chhuria's name did not find place in the FIR of January 29 after Sugri himself lodged the report against the minister before the SP of Bargarh.
The report submitted by the state home department yesterday was silent on what action was taken on the points raised in the special mention, which was in contravention to Rule-116-D(2) of the Assembly, Mishra said.

"There is no mention of the fact that a report was made against Chhuria and why no case was registered against her or why no investigation is going on," he said, adding, "this shows there is an attempt to shield the minister.