Opposition Intensifies Demand For Odisha CM’s Resignation Over Naba Das Murder

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly was paralysed on Friday amid uproar over Naba Kishore Das’ murder as opposition BJP and Congress created ruckus demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s resignation.

The opening day of the second phase of the Assembly’s budget session was stalled as the opposition members were vociferous in their demand for the resignation of the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of Home department.

As soon as the House assembled, Congress members rushed to the well and sought to know where the Chief Minister was. The pandemonium began when Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari was briefing the House about cabinet decisions.

As the Assembly proceedings were paralysed, oppsition MLAs lashed out at the Chief Minister outside the House alleging shoddy probe into Naba Das murder.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra told reporters outside the House that Naveen Patnaik should resign as Chief Minister on moral ground over the sensational murder of Naba Das as he is also in charge of Home department.

Mounting a scathing attack on the Chief Minster, the veteran Congress leader said Naveen is visiting Rourkela though the Assembly is in session now. “This is an insult to the House,” Mishra claimed.

Stating that Naveen is anwerable to the Assembly and as well as the people, he claimed that the ongoing probe into Naba Das murder is not in the right direction.

Though the government admitted that there was a conspiracy behind the murder, it failed to share details, he claimed.

Attacking Naveen in same vein, senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati claiemed that the state government is misleading people on the Minister’s murder in the name of investigation and nobody knows where the probe is heading.

Stating that the motive behind murder is still unclear, he said the probe should try to find the person behind the crime. Congress demands the Chief Minister’s resignation and probe into the mysterious murder by SIT, Bahinipati told reporters.

Firebrand Congress leader and MLA Suresh Routray claimed that Naba Das’ daughter has also described the ongoing probe into the mysterious murder as tardy.

Hitting out at the Chief Minister for skipping the Assembly and visiting Rourkela, Routray told reporters that Naveen should step down from the post.

Senior BJP leader and opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi said 41 days have elapsed since Naba Das was murdered, but the probe by the Crime Branch so far failed to yield any result.

Claiming that the probe agency has failed to unravel the mystery of the conspiracy behind the murder, he said the investigation seems to be directionless.

Accusing the state government of being inefficient, Majhi said the Chief Minister should resign as the sensational murder case is yet to be cracked. Naveen has no moral right to remain in office, he added.