Bhubaneswar: The Assembly witnessed adjournments several times over alleged assault of a journalist by Kendrapara SP during Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s visit to the district.
Kendrapara police superintendent Niti Sekhar had allegedly attempted to slap a channel reporter who had gone to cover Patnaik’s visit to the district Wednesday to campaign for the Patkura Assembly election.
The incident came to light after a purported video showing the SP pulling the collar of the scribe’s shirt with one hand and raising another hand to slap him at Barimula helipad went viral on social media.
Raising the issue in the floor of Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik demanded action against the Kendrapara SP.
Terming the SP’s behaviour as “unfortunate”, he said this is not the sole incident of its kind in the state.
“Members of the fourth pillar of democracy should not be treated in this manner. Journalists are facing similar situations in different parts of the state,” he said.
He sought to know what action the government has taken against the police official and said officers who do not know how to behave in public should not be given responsibility of working at big functions.
Criticising the BJD government, Naik said the journalist was heckled in the presence of two former ministers—Pranab Prakash Das and Sanjay Das Burma– just a day after the Chief Minister assured the Assembly that the government was “fully committed” to protect life and property of all citizens and ensure maintenance of law and order.
BJP deputy leader BC Sethi Maharashtra has enacted a Journalist Protection Act and insisted on strong action against the police official. Sethi urged Speaker to give a ruling for framing law for the protection of scribes in the state.
Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati demanded arrest and suspension of Niti Sekhar and said the governance in the state is “Naveen tantra or police tantra but not gana tantra.’’
The Congress and the BJP members also demanded a ruling from Speaker Surya Narayan Patro on the incident.
The Speaker, however, said the Kendrapara SP has already expressed his regret over the incident but the statement did not satisfy the BJP and Congress members.
They rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans against the government and demanded immediate action against the SP.
Congress members were seen attempting to climb the Speaker’s podium, while the BJP MLAs led by Sethi staged a sit-in in the well of the House demanding a ruling from the Speaker.
This led to the House being adjourned for brief spells at least seven times. As the Opposition remained adamant on their demands and continued to create ruckus, Patro finally adjourned the House till 3 pm.
In the afternoon hours also, the BJP members staged walked out from the House. The demand for grant of Planning & Convergence department was passed in absence of the principal Opposition party. The House passed Rs 1095.35 crore grant for the department for the year 2019-20.
