Bhubaneswar: For the second consecutive day Tuesday, the State Assembly witnessed pandemonium and was adjourned several times through the day after opposition parties continued demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation over rising incidents of missing children and minor rape cases in the state.
As soon as the house reassembled for Question Hour at 10.30 am, opposition BJP and Congress members started shouting slogans against the government over the issue.
But even before Speaker Surya Narayan Patro asked panchayati raj minister Pratap Jena to give a reply, BJP members rushed to the well of the house and demanded the CM’s resignation. The Congress members, who made a similar demand, shouted slogans while standing near their seats.
Unable to put the house in order, Speaker adjourned it till 3 pm without further business. As Opposition continued to stick to their demand, afternoon and evening hours also got completely washed away.
“Apart from the CM’s resignation, we demand a discussion on rising incidents of missing children and rape cases in the Assembly,” BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi told reporters outside the house.
The Chief Minister is remaining absent in the house as he is not willing to give a clarification on this matter. BJD members seem to have no access to the Chief Minister to take up the issue. Since this incident has brought shame to Odisha, the state government has to act tough, the BJP demanded.
Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik, had Monday alleged that more than 6,000 girls and boys had gone missing from the state within a span of four years while only 40 per cent of them have been traced.
Statewide Congress protests today
The state unit of the Congress has called a statewide protest Wednesday to protest the rising number of crimes against women and the growing number of minor rapes in the state.
Speaking to reporters here, Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said, “Law and order situation has totally collapsed in the state. Rape and abduction cases have increased significantly. While seven rape cases have been reported every day, only six accused were convicted in a year.”
He said the Congress will stage protests in all district headquarters from 10 am to 1 pm Wednesday. Party leaders will submit memoranda to respective District Collectors in this regard.