Bhubaneswar: Pandemonium marred the Question Hour of state Assembly Monday as opposition Congress and BJP created ruckus in the Well of the House over alleged sapling scam in Mayurbhanj district.
Soon after the House assembled at 10.30 am, homage was paid to veteran freedom fighter and former minister Dolagobinda Pradhan by observing one minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.
When the Question Hour began after the condolence, Opposition members from both Congress and BJP rushed to the Well of the House and created ruckus demanding a CBI probe into the alleged sapling scam. In such a situation, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the proceedings for an hour.
Later on when the House reassembled, Congress and BJP leaders slammed the government over the issue. Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said,
“The government has admitted in the House that public money to the tune of over Rs 17 crore has been misappropriated by an officer in Mayurbhanj district. Surprisingly, the government has just suspended him for some time and again reinstated him.”
Stating, this step will encourage everybody to misappropriate government money, Mishra said, “The concern official should be booked under Section 409 of IPC.”
“As per the reply of the Agriculture Minister to the House, a probe revealed and confirmed corruption in sapling plantation in Mayurbhanj. Therefore, it is the duty of the Chief Minister and the minister in-charge of the department to prosecute the officer. However the accused is still roaming scot-free,” Mishra said.
