Bhubaneswar: Pandemonium continues to prevail in the State Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive day of ongoing second phase Budget session today as opposition Congress and BJD members created ruckus in the well of the House over the Ganjam hooch tragedy.
As soon demanded resignation of Excise Minister Prathivraj Harichandan over the Chikiti hooch tragedy, which has claimed two lives so far.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 AM, the opposition Congress and BJD members rushed to the well of the House demanding resignation of Excise Minister Prathivraj Harichandan over the Chikiti Hooch tragedy, which has claimed two lives so far.
Both Congress and BJD members shouted slogans, tried to climb to the Speaker’s podium and disrupted the Question Hour, prompting Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the house until 11:30 AM.
Shri Harichandan is in the eye of the storm after the opposition BJD demanded his resignation in the wake of the liquor death cases at Chikiti in Ganjam district where two people died, while 13 others are undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampur.
Speaking to media persons outside the House, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said earlier whenever such a hooch tragedy was reported, the Excise Minister had tendered resignation. However, in the present BJP government, the Minister has yet to resign, she said.
“As people have died and been hospitalized after consuming illicit liquor, the Excise Minister should tender resignation on moral ground,” she demanded.
The BJD held the BJP government responsible for the death of the two people in the liquor tragedy in Ganjam. As the BJP leaders and workers are indulged in illicit liquor sale and liquor mafias, the BJP Government is not taking any action against the accused, Mallik alleged.
“Until the Excise Minister has not resigned, we will continue our protest inside the Assembly,” said a Congress MLA.
Earlier, Excise Minister Harichandan had said that the Chief Minister will soon order for a RDC-level probe. He said the RDC would submit the report to the government within two months.
The Minister had stated that the State has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illicit liquor and directed the officials to keep strict vigil and conduct raids on illegal liquor manufacturing units and shops across the state.
Shri Harichandan had also informed that the state government has suspended Berhampur Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandra Mohanty and Sub-Inspector Prasanna Kumar Dhali, he said adding that Berhampur Excise Superintendent Pradeep Panigrahi has been transferred from his present place of posting.
During the past three days, the Assembly witnessed ruckus as the opposition Congress and BJD members disrupted the business over their specific demands.