Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: Acrimonious scenes prevailed in the assembly for the fifth day running Tuesday over chit fund scam leading to repeated adjournments of the house.
As soon as the house assembled for the day, uproarious scenes prevailed as Congress and BJP members stormed into the well and shouted anti-government slogans while wearing black aprons.
Opposition members demanded dismissal of Justice MM Das (retd), chairman of chit-fund inquiry commission, and resignation of food and supply minister Sanjay Das Burma. They also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for allegedly shielding chit fund tainted leaders.
Amid chaos, speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the house till 12.30.
When it reconvened law minister Arun Kumar Sahoo placed a statement in response to a statement by the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra Tuesday in which he had linked BJD with chit-scam stars. Amid uproar scenes, Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati climbed onto the Speaker’s podium and broke his mic, before the minister completed his statement. The house was adjourned again till 3 pm.
At 3pm when the house reassembled, the treasury bench members took the attacking position seeking unconditional apology from the opposition leader for linking BJD with chit fund scam.
The house witnessed repeated adjournments over the issue and at 6 pm the house was finally adjourned for the day.
Speaking to reporters, Mishra said, “There has been a conspiracy against me as the ruling party members are not allowing me to place my statement in the house.” He said by preventing a member to speak in the house, the ruling BJD is killing the democracy in broad day light.
Meanwhile, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said their protest will continue as long as the opposition leader has not apologised.
