A day after stalling the proceedings of the Odisha Assembly over a “police notice” to Congress Chief Whip Taraprasad Bahinipati in connection with a criminal case, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Saturday expressed regret, saying he was misled by media reports.
“We came to know about the notice to Taraprasad from the media. The police have not intimated the MLA regarding appearing at the police station for questioning for his alleged links with former Congress MLA of Sanakhemundi, Ramesh Jena,” Mr. Mishra said in the House during zero hour.
Stating that Mr. Bahinipati was not at all summoned, Mr. Mishra said he should have verified the fact instead of going by the media report before raising the issue in the Assembly.
“We will cooperate to ensure normal functioning of the House. We regret to have taken it up amid misunderstanding which led to a ruckus in the House,” he said.
Mr. Mishra’s statement in the House came after Police Commissioner Y. B. Khurania confirmed that neither the Commissionrate of Police nor the Berhampur police have issued any notice to any MLA as alleged.
The Assembly was repeatedly adjourned yesterday due to protests by the Opposition Congress members who demanded a discussion on alleged political witch-hunt by the police.
Mr. Mishra yesterday said: “The police have issued a notice to the Congress Chief Whip in order to silence members of the Opposition. The notice was issued to an MLA when the House is in session.”
The Congress leader had said the notice was issued to Mr. Bahinipati in connection with the arrest of former Congress MLA Ramesh Jena who was arrested on the charge of storing illegal firearms and providing shelter to criminals.
The Congress, however, alleged that the police targeted Jena for political reasons.
Mr. Bahinipati’s name came to the picture after the police found that the Opposition Chief Whip had allowed Jena and his associates to stay at his quarter. - PTI
