Stalemate continues in Odisha Assembly for 6th consecutive day

Bhubaneswar : The stalemate in Odisha Assembly continued for the sixth consecutive day today over school teacher Mamita Meher murder case forcing Speaker S N Patro to adjourn the house till 1600hrs without transacting any business.

The house today witnessed a high voltage political drama. For the first time in the history of the state Assembly, the members of the opposition BJP Congress and the treasury bench stormed into the well today simultaneously and created a ruckus in the house.

Speaker S N Patro was forced to adjourn the house at 1035hrs till 1600 hrs after the house plunged into a chaotic situation.

As soon as the house assembled at 1030hrs to take up the question hours, the BJP members carrying posters shouting slogans beating bells, rushed to the well and demanded the sacking of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his involvement in the Mamita Meher murder case and a CBI inquiry into the case.

The Congress members carrying placards rushed to the Well carrying placards and demanded the dismissal of the Minister and a court-monitored SIT probe into the incident.

The ruling BJD members also rushed to the well simultaneously protesting against the central negligence of the state and price rise.

The women members of the treasury bench sprinkled holy Gangajal in the house praying God to bless the opposition members with the good sense to run the house.

As the house plunged into a chaotic situation and the Speaker realising that the house could not be conducted smoothly adjourned the house till 1600hrs.

The question hour and other business of the house scheduled for the pre-lunch session could not be taken up due to the protest and adjournment.

Today for the sixth consecutive day the house could not transact any business over the Mamita Meher murder issue.

Soon after the house was adjourned while the members of the Congress carrying placards went on a Parikrama around the Assembly, the treasury bench members sat on a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises to protest against the apathetic attitude of the Central government to the state and rise in prices of fuel and essential commodities.

The BJP members also continued their protest.

Both the opposition and the treasury bench members accused each other of the impasse in the house.

While Mr Pratap Deb of BJD accused the opposition of enacting a drama and not allowing the house to function even after Chief Minister made a statement in the house and the Speaker tried to resolve the problem at the business advisory committee meeting.

Mr Deb said the opposition members were giving notices for discussion under adjournment motion but not allowing the house to function.

But the opposition members of both BJP and the Congress blamed the treasury bench for the deadlock.

Mr Bishnu Sethi (BJP) Mr Tara Prasad Bahinipati said it was the responsibility of the treasury bench to run the house.

But the Chief Minister is not giving any importance to the house and not attending the house and not trying to resolve the problem.

Mamita Meher, a school teacher of Sunshine English Medium school of Mahaling in Kalahandi district was murdered by the School Management President Gobind Sahu on October 8 last after she threatened to expose his extramarital affairs and sexual escapades.

Opposition BJP and Congress alleged that Mr Mishra has close links with the prime accused and was involved in the murder.

Both the opposition parties have been resorting to agitations, dharna and protest meetings across the state for nearly two months demanding the arrest and sacking of the Minister.

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