Bhubaneswar: Even after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s statement, the much-talked Mamita Meher murder case continued to rock the Odisha Legislative Assembly as opposition BJP and Congress in no mood to go back from their protest demanding removal of Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra.
The functioning of the Odisha House was almost washed out today due to protest by BJP and Congress members over the issue.
Except for the tabling of some papers relating to the Housing and Urban development department in the post-lunch session, the House could not transact any other business today.
Speaker Surya Narayan Patro first adjourned the House till 4 PM and again at till Monday due to the vehement protest by the Opposition members.
Opposition BJP and the Congress members have been demanding the dismissal and arrest of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the murder case.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 AM, the opposition members trooped into the well by holding placards and shouted slogans seeking removal of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged links with the prime accused in the murder case.
Going by the BJP way, the Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati Saturday sprinkled Gangajal and cow urine inside the House alleging that the entry of the Minister has impured the holy place.
The Congress MLA has alleged that Mr.Mishra has been accused of having links with Gobinda Sahu- the prime accused in the murder of Mamita Meher, has put his ‘unholy feet’ in the House and the temple of democracy has became ‘desecrated’.
Speaking to the media outside the House, Mr.Bahinipati said, “Minister Mr.Mishra put his unholy steps in the temple of democracy and desecrated it. I sprinkled Ganga Jal, cow urine and basil leaves on the floor to purify it.”
In his response, Speaker SN Patro said, “It is not a drama hall…please go to your seat.” Other party colleagues also joined Mr.Bahinipati.
The BJP members, who performed a similar act in the Assembly premises outside the Hall, today also continued to create uproar in the House along with the Congress. Carrying placards, the opposition members rushed and shouted slogans against the government over the case and created a ruckus.
Unable to conduct the Question Hour session, the Speaker repeatedly requested the members to go to their seats. As the opposition members did not respond to him, the House first adjourned the House till 4 pm.
When the BJP and Congress members continued their protest in the post-lunch session, the House was adjourned till Monday. With this, stalemate continued in the Assembly for the fourth consecutive day of the winter session.
The opposition BJP and the Congress members were continued their protest demanding dismissal and arrest of Minister Mr.Mishra for his alleged involvement in the murder case.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made a statement in the House through video conference yesterday saying his government is committed to give justice to Mamita Meher. However, it seems that the opposition is not in a mood to go back until their demands are not fulfilled.
BJP Deputy Leader Bishnu Charan Sethi said, “Chief Minister’s statement neither change the fact that Mamita was murdered nor give justice to the victim. Nonetheless, the CM never said anything on our demand of removing the Minister and CBI probe into the case.”
Targeting the Chief Minister, Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra said, “It is unfortunate that the leader of the House, whose responsibility is to ensure smooth functioning of proceedings, is not attending the Vidhan Sabha.”
As per tradition, the Speaker was supposed to convene a meeting with the opposition leaders to resolve the deadlock. However, he is not doing so. Instead, the Speaker is adjourning the House repeatedly, which is against democracy, Mr.Mishra alleged.
However, the ruling BJD leader Snehangini Churia refuted the allegations and said that even after the CM stated that there will be free and fair investigation, the opposition is doing drama by such protests in the House.
