Odisha Assembly stalled for 2nd day over ponzi scam

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Assembly was stalled for the second consecutive day today over the ponzi scheme scam in the state with Opposition members storming the well alleging involvement of ruling BJD leaders and demanding immediate discussion on the issue.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, both Congress and BJP members were on their feet shouting slogans and waving placards and banners which slammed the BJD government for the 'loot of poor people's hard-earned money by tainted chitfund companies'.

Some of the placards claimed that CBI probe into the ponzi scheme scandal had exposed the ruling BJD as some ruling party leaders have been arrested by the agency.

Shouting slogans the Congress legislators trooped into the well of the House.

Ruling BJD members, too, rushed into the well also waving placards demanding immediate central assistance for calamities wrought by Cyclone Phailin last year and Cyclone Hudhud last month.

As pandemonium prevailed Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the House till 11.30 AM.

When the House reassembled similar scenes were witnessed leading to adjournment till 3 PM.

The House also witnessed protest by Opposition BJP members against alleged use of 'unparliamentary and vulgar words' by state Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy to the party's lone woman MLA Radharani Panda, who staged a sit-in in front of the speaker's podium in the well demanding action against Maharathy.

"Maharathy made unacceptable remarks. His words were derogatory against any woman," she told reporters outside the House adding she felt humiliated over the incident.

"If a woman MLA's dignity is not protected in the Assembly, what about women across the state?" she asked.

Maharathy, however, denied having any objectionable remarks against Panda and said she might have heard something wrong in the din.