Turmoil in Orissa Assembly as Opposition seeks Naveen’s resignation

Pandemonium prevailed in Orissa Assembly for the second consecutive day today with Opposition Congress demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation over Vedanta University issue.

As soon as the House met for the day, Congress members rushed to the well. Despite uproar by the Opposition, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat took up the Question Hour amidst slogan shouting.

Congress members raised slogans and displayed leaflets demanding resignation of the Chief Minister who was present in the House.

The House was adjourned for an hour when Congress members refused to resume their seats and threatened to climb up the Speaker’s podium.

Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress wanted to speak, but was not allowed by the Chair.

When the House reassembled, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan was agitated over the Speaker’s decision not to allow Leader of the Opposition to speak.

Mr. Harichandran said, “There is no tradition in Parliament or in any State Assembly where the Leader of Opposition is barred from speaking.”

Another Congress member S S Saluja said, “This is a rare incident that the Leader of Opposition was disallowed to speak.”

Parliamentary Affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty supported the Speaker’s decision, while ruling BJD member Pradeep Maharathy accused the opposition of trying to stall the proceedings without any reason.

The Orissa High Court had quashed the State government’s land acquisition process for Vedanta University and termed it as invalid.