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Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
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Impasse continues in Orissa Assembly

Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR: Stalemate over the Opposition demand for a discussion on the naxalite attack and arms loot continued in the Orissa Assembly for the third consecutive day on Wednesday even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said operation was on to locate and intercept the retreating Maoists.

No business was conducted during the day as the Opposition legislators insisted that the Speaker allow a discussion on their motion on the naxal issue during the day.

As soon as the House assembled, Leader of Opposition J.B. Patnaik urged Speaker Maheswar Mohanty to allow a discussion on the naxal issue.

When the Speaker responded saying the matter would be taken up for discussion in the form of adjournment motion on Thursday, Opposition legislators trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty intervened saying that the government was ready to discuss the issue, but the discussion should be held on Thursday as announced by the Speaker.

The Speaker adjourned the proceedings as the Opposition members did not return to their seats and raised slogans seeking to know the reasons behind the government stand for not agreeing to discuss the issue during the day.

The proceedings were adjourned in a similar fashion two more times and when the House reassembled at 5 p.m., the Chief Minister made a statement that all-out efforts were being made to flush out the naxalites and effect further recovery of looted arms and ammunition.

More number of senior and experienced police officers had been mobilised and they were directly monitoring the operations at the spot, Mr. Patnaik said.

The Chief Minister said the combing and search operations were continuing in full swing in the jungles of Ganjam, Kandhamal, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts.

The search parties had detected eight vehicles used by the naxalites in the Nayagarh incident in half-burnt condition at the site of encounter in Gasama forest in Ganjam district.

The encounter had taken place on Saturday, a day after the Maoists looted arms and killed 15 persons in Nayagarh district.

Opposition defiant

The Opposition legislators, however, did not change their stand on the issue. They rushed to the well as raised slogans against Mr. Patnaik as he continued to read out his statement.

Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings for the day as soon as Mr. Patnaik finished his statement.

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