The Opposition and treasury benches in the Odisha assembly were at loggerheads after speaker Niranjan Pujari disallowed a debate on the chit fund scandal on the premise of advice by the state Advocate General.
Pandemonium erupted in the house on the eighth day soon after Pujari said in his ruling that no debate can be held inside the assembly on the chit fund scam since the matter was sub-judice. The speaker said, he was guided by the advice given by the Advocate General, Surya Prasad Mishra.
The Speaker also categorically stated that the members cannot make any mention of the chit fund scam during demand discussion on the Supplementary Budget. Members of the opposition Congress and BJP rose in unison and protested, showing their disapproval of the Speaker’s ruling. The uproar forced the speaker to first adjourn the house till 3 pm and later till Saturday.
“The Speaker’s ruling that the chit fund issue cannot be raised even during the demand discussion is unfortunate. It is not in conformity with laws and is unconstitutional. The ruling BJD is amply scared of a debate on the chit fund scam,” said senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra.
State BJP unit president K V Singhdeo said, “The advice given by the Advocate General is wrong. I do not challenge the Speaker’s ruling but it is a wrong precedent”.
“The Speaker’s ruling is not unconstitutional. The Opposition is bent on stalling the business of the house. I disapprove the action of the Opposition,” said parliamentary affairs minister Bikram K Arukh.
