Bhubaneswar: The Assembly Thursday adopted a privilege motion against journalist Abhijit Iyer Mitra for making derogatory remarks about MLAs of Odisha, the state itself, and the Konark and Jagannath temples. The debate on the motion continued through the day — the last of the monsoon session.
As soon as the House assembled for the day, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat suspended the Question Hour and allowed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Narasingha Mishra to move the privilege motion.
Members, cutting across party lines, supported the motion and demanded strong action against the journalist, who had dared the House to take action against him. Mitra is a friend of former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Panda and had made several derogatory remarks, including those against the state and the Konark and Jagannath temples.
“Remarks of the gentleman have disrespected people of Odisha and the Odia language, it culture and tradition. The power of the House is unlimited.
As per Section 140 of Rules of Business of the House, he should be summoned to the state and the House should decide on quantum of punishment,” Mishra said.
BJD legislator Arun Sahoo, BJP legislator Pradip Purohit, Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, BJP legislature party leader KV Singhdeo and many other members demanded action against the journalist.
Purohit said: “Iyer has used derogatory remarks on Lord Jagannath, Konark Sun Temple and Odisha. Till date, he has not even tendered an apology. He has also used the term ‘buddhu’ (fool) for the legislators of Odisha. . . We want stringent action to be initiated against him. BJP supports this privilege motion and demand legal action against Iyer.”
After hearing the members, the Speaker adjourned the house for 90 minutes, and convened an all-party meeting. Following the meeting, the LoP called for the formation of a committee to decide the future course of action against Iyer. The committee headed by the LoP would also have senior BJD MLAs Debi Prasad Mishra, Pramila Mallick, Arun Sahoo, Sanjay Dasburma and BJP legislature party leader KV Singhdeo as members. It will submit its probe report on the first day of the next session of the Assembly, government chief whip Amar Prasad Satpathy said.
Mitra arrested; released on bail
New Delhi: Journalist and defence analyst Abhijit Iyer Mitra, who was arrested by the Odisha police on multiple charges, was granted conditional bail Thursday by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court Saket here. Abhijit told the court: “I was served notice to appear at a police station in Puri and I agreed to that. But today, two men from Delhi police came to my place and took me to the police station. Since morning I was standing in the police station without any information.” CMM Manish Khurana granted Mitra bail on a surety of Rs 1 lakh and directed him to appear before the investigating officer by September 28. The court dismissed the plea for transit remand of Abhijit and observed that the appellant appeared to be in compliance of the notice served on him under section 160 of the CrPC. Mitra was arrested by the Odisha police along with Delhi Police Thursday morning at Nizamuddin. He was charged under Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds), 295 A (hurting religious sentiments) and other sections of IPC. Meanwhile, two more cases were Thursday registered against the journalist over the issue. A Bhubaneswar-based youth preparing for competitive examinations lodged a case (432/18) against Mitra at the Sahid Nagar police station. Similarly, a lawyer, Lalatendu Das, filed a 1CC case before the court of Sub-divisional Magistrate here alleging that his statements caused irreparable damage to the prestige, image, reputation and social dignity of Odisha.
