Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD and Congress continue to stall the State Assembly for the second consecutive day over the alleged assault of a government official by the son of Governor Raghubar Das on July 7.
The proceedings of the State Assembly adjourned till 4 PM without transacting any major business on Tuesday following a ruckus by the Opposition BJD and Congress over the issue.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 AM, opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik raised the issue and demanded action against the Governor’s son for assaulting a government official.
Claiming that the State’s BJP government has failed to provide security to an official who is an Odia, Shrimati Mallik said, “By shielding the Governor’s son, the State government has insulted Odia ‘asmita’, espousing which the BJP came to power in the state. We demand a statement from the Chief Minister on the matter.”
She also dubbed Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan’s statement on Monday that the Puri collector was probing the matter as “unfortunate”.
“What will the SP, DSP and other police officials do when the Puri district collector has been asked to probe a criminal case?” BJD Veteran said, seeking clarification from the CM, who is also in charge of the Home Department
Soon the BJD members trooped into the well of the House, raised slogans on Odisha Asmita and demanded the arrest of the Governor’s son for assaulting a government official.
Speaker Surama Padhy tried to pacify the Opposition BJD members but they continued their slogan shouting inside the well. Then, the Speaker adjourned the house till 11.30 AM.
When the House reassembled at 11.30 AM, the BJD members again rushed to the well and raised slogans in support of their demand. Congress members too joined the BJD and went to the well of the House raising slogans against the alleged attack on Raj Bhavan ASO Baikuntha Pradhan by the Governor’s son in Puri.
The House soon plunged into a ruckus with the opposition insisting on their demand to take action against the Governor’s son. The BJD demanded justice for the ASO.
Treasury bench members Jayanarayan Mishra and Tankadhar Tripathy countered the Opposition BJD members stating that the law and order during the tenure of the BJD government in the State was more grave and said the BJD has no face to raise the law and order issue.
As the ruckus continued, the Speaker again adjourned the house at 11.36 AM till 4 PM.