Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly witnessed Monday pandemonium as Opposition BJP and Congress stalled the House proceedings over seizure of government property at ‘Nirman Soudha’ here by L&T over non-payment of dues.
Opposition BJP moved a notice for admissibility of an adjournment motion on the issue. However, Speaker BK Arukha rejected the motion as the matter is sub-judice. Soon after this, BJP and Congress members rushed to the Well of the House and created a ruckus over the issue. The House was adjourned first till 11:30am and then till 4:00pm.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10:30am, both BJP and Congress members trooped into the Well, shouted slogans and disrupted the proceedings of the House. The MLAs demanded the Speaker to allow discussion on the issue by admitting the adjournment motion.
The Opposition members questioned why Rs 20 crore due to the L&T was not paid which has now gone up to Rs 120 crore with the addition of interest.
While requesting the members to go their seat and participate in the business, the Speaker asked them to raise the issue during the Zero Hour. The agitating members, however, did not pay any heed to it.
Finding it difficult to conduct the business, the Speaker adjourned the house till 11:30am.
When the House reassembled at 11:30am, BJP and Congress members again rushed to the Well and insisted on their demand.
The Speaker said he did not allow a discussion as the government had stated that it has filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court and the matter is sub-judice.
While saying Monday is a great day for Odisha as the state’s daughter Droupadi Murmu took oath as the President, Arukha appealed to the members to participate and cooperate in passing a resolution to felicitate the President. However, the Opposition continued shouting slogan inside the well of the House.
BJP chief whip Mohan Majhi opposed the ruling and demanded a debate on the issue saying it to be delicate. BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra too said the matter can be discussed as the case was not accepted for hearing in the court.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the Odisha government did not give importance to the issue between 2004 and 2022. “The private company has seized 10 computers and obtained secret information of the government available from those computers,” he informed.
For this, the company must be blacklisted with immediate effect. Properties of government officials, who are responsible for the wrongdoing, be seized, demanded Bahinipati.
In reply, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari said, “In Assembly, the decision of the Speaker/chair is the supreme and all members should obey it.” When a case is pending in the court, that matter should not be discussed in the House, said Pujari.