Expedite assent for Excise Bill: CM

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the Union home minister P Chidambaram to expedite Presidential assent for Orissa Excise Bill-2005. Patnaik had a telephonic conversation with Chidambaram in this connection. The demand for hastening assent to the Bill comes in the wake of death of 34 people in the state recently following consumption of spurious liquor. The Bill was sent by the Orissa government for assent of the President in January 2009.