Naba Das Murder: Govt Afraid Of Facing Opposition Questions In Assembly, Says Cong Leader

Bhubaneswar: Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra on Tuesday said the state government is afraid of facing discussion on murder of minister Naba Kishore Das as it is trying to hide the truth.

Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, Mishra said it was decided at all-party meeting that after the Leder of Opposition (LoP) speaks during zero hour, leader of Congress legislature party will be allowed to speak. But this understanding was violated by the treasury bench members on Tuesday.

“Since the government does not believe in democracy, it is afraid of facing the Opposition in the Assembly. The ruling party is unable to answer the questions posed by the Opposition in the House. The ministers are trying to escape the Opposition questions by giving vague answers or furnishing wrong data. It is not only unfortunate but also dangerous for democracy,” he said.

The Congress leader said, “Yesterday I had asked whether the appointment of a retired judge to monitor the Crime Branch investigation into the murder of Naba Das was legal or not? Instead of replying in yes or no, the government cited the instance of the appointment of retired High Court judge of Haryana in the investigation into a ferry incident in Uttar Pradesh and said it can be considered as a precedent.”

“But it is not true. The Supreme Court as part of judicial inquiry had issued the order to SIT which was the investigating agency in the case. It means the state government resorted to falsehood on the floor of the House,” Mishra said.

He further said since the Opposition wanted to raise the issue in the Assembly, the ruling party members deliberately created uproar that led to adjournment of the House.

“Similarly, the Crime Branch is yet to establish whether the death of Govind Sahu inside the jail, the prime accused in school teacher Mamita Meher murder case, was suicide or murder. Besides, 225 cases have been handed over to Crime Branch out of which charge-sheet has been filed in 88 cases in the past 10 years. So, how would one trust the Crime Branch?,” he asked.

“The government is afraid of facing the Assembly and the discussion on any issue. Because either it does not have answers to the points raised by the Opposition or is trying to skirt the issue to hide the truth,” he concluded.