Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJP and Congress on Monday came down heavily on the ruling BJD government for abrupt adjournment of the Odisha Assembly.
Criticising the adjournment of the House, leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra said the Speaker had accepted an adjournment motion proposal of the Congress to discuss the felling of trees in Jhinkaragadi forest of Balarampur village under Odapada block in Dhenkanal district on November 17. But the state government, fearing a backlash, deliberately adjourned the House which had enough time to discuss the issue. “I don’t understand the decision of the Speaker to adjourn the House till 3 pm,” he added.
Referring to the presence of a team of CBI officials at the State Secretariat here on Sunday as reported in a print media, Mishra said “The state government should confirm the presence of the central investigating team. It should also clarify the purpose of its visit and the officials it had met.”
Supporting Mishra, Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati demanded a clarification from the state government about the reason for the presence of the CBI team and the purpose of its visit. “If the state government fails to give a clarification on this matter, the Chief Minister should resign from his post,” he pointed out.
Congress member Prafulla Majhi said the BJD had planned to adjourn the House to avoid the adjournment motion on the issue. He said before the commencement of the question-hour session, the Chief Minister and the Speaker had a meeting in this regard. “The Speaker deliberately adjourned the House in consultation with the Chief Minister as the government knew that it would be cornered by the Opposition on this issue,” he pointed out.
Referring to the forcible felling of hundreds of trees in Jhinkaragadi forest, BJP member Rabi Naik said the state government has gone against the wishes of the people. “Though the state government is aware that the people of Balarampur village had banned any form of liquor trade since last 15 years, it still went ahead with its decision and leased a portion of the forest land to a beer company. It seems that the government is trying to encourage liquor trade in the village,” he observed.
Criticising the statement of the leader of the Opposition on the adjournment of the House, BJD spokesperson Arun Sahu said the former lacks comprehensive knowledge on the House proceedings. “Apart from the leader of the Opposition, whoever has spoken against the adjournment, need to know about the rules and provisions of the House proceedings,” he noted.
