The Hindu : National : Maken defends letter to Orissa leaders

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Saturday, Dec 01, 2007
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Maken defends letter to Orissa leaders

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Responding to objections raised by the Biju Janata Dal in the Lok Sabha to “the directions” given by Union Minister of State for Urban Development and AICC in charge for Orissa Ajay Maken to State Congress leaders to “not allow the Assembly to function till their issues were permitted to be raised,” the Minister on Friday said he was “well within the established and universally accepted principles of internal party functioning.”

In a statement issued here, Mr. Maken said the sine die adjournment of the State Assembly without debating the Congress motion on atrocities against farmers and diversion of the Hirakud dam waters to industry “was yet another example of the Naveen Patnaik government trying to use devious means to escape from an honest debate that will not only expose them but also bring to the fore divisions in the ruling coalition.”

Charging the government in Orissa with trying to divert the attention of people from real issues, he said the move to take up a motion against him in the Assembly and then getting the assembly adjourned sine die was to save the government from embarrassment .

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