The Hindu : National : Bedlam in Orissa Assembly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 12, 2005

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National

Bedlam in Orissa Assembly

Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR: As the Opposition stalled the proceedings of the Orissa Assembly for the second day on Thursday demanding a CBI probe into the alleged nexus between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators and the tender mafia, three Congress legislators were fined Rs. 60,000 on the charge of damaging equipment in the Speaker's podium.

The House witnessed uproarious scenes from the beginning of the question hour with the Opposition legislators occupying the well, raising slogans against the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, and the BJD-BJP coalition government.

Scuffle between members

As the Speaker asked the Ministers to go ahead with replying to questions, a scuffle ensued between the Opposition legislators and the watch and ward staff as the former repeatedly attempted to climb onto the Speaker's podium. The house was adjourned several times in the morning session.

The proceeding was also disrupted in the post-lunch session with the Opposition demanding withdrawal of the Speaker's order slapping the fine on Debashish Patnaik, Rabi Mallick and Nimai Sarkar for damaging the equipment on Wednesday.

CBI probe sought

The Chief Minister had last week ordered a Crime Branch probe into the cases pertaining to illegal awarding of tenders. But the Opposition is sticking to its demand for a CBI probe into the alleged nexus between criminals and politicians in fixing of tenders.

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