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Speaker issue: drama in Orissa House

BHUBANESWAR: High drama and chaos prevailed in the Orissa Assembly on Thursday with the Opposition demanding resignation of Speaker Maheswar Mohanty in view of the sexual harassment charges levelled against him by a suspended woman employee of the House.

No business was conducted between 10.30 a.m. and 4.13 p.m. as the Opposition legislators sat in dharna on the Speaker’s podium demanding Mr. Mohanty’s resignation and an independent probe into the allegations.

They prevented Deputy Speaker Prahallad Dora from occupying the Speaker’s seat to preside over the House and conduct proceedings.

As the Opposition sit-in continued inside the House, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

The meeting, however, failed to find a solution.

Mr. Patnaik told journalists after the meeting that the Speaker should not be made to resign without a probe. He also rejected the Opposition demand for an independent probe saying that no external agency should be involved as the issue pertained to the Speaker. He indicated that a House Committee would conduct the probe.

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