BJP targets BJD MP, minister; stalls Odisha Assembly for second day

Reported by Chinmaya Dehury

Bhubaneswar, July 24:

Pandemonium prevailed in the Odisha Assembly for the second day on Thursday with BJP members demanding a statement from Naveen Patnaik on alleged misuse of discretionary quota and plots to a BJD MP’s family and a minister’s involvement in the construction of an illegal apartment block in the state capital.

As the ruckus continued, the Speaker had to adjourn the house twice.

The issue was raised in the Assembly during Zero Hour by BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda.

“While one minister is involved in illegal apartment constructions, another former minister and BJD MP has acquired five houses and plots in the name of his wife and son under discretionary quota,” Panda alleged.

He pointed out the state Housing and Urban Development minister had admitted in the House that a minister was engaged in illegal building constructions in Bhubaneswar.

However, no action was taken against the minister concerned and the MP, Panda said seeking a ruling from the Speaker. The BJP leader also demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue.

The BJP leaders disrupted the proceedings after Speaker Niranjan Pujari rejected their demand and said the issue should not be raised in the House again.

Yesterday, the Congress members had raised the matter in the Assembly raising the name of former minister and present Rajya Sabha MP Kalpataru Das. They alleged that the person concerned and his family members as well as a transport company with which they are linked had availed three of four plots/houses in Bhubaneswar.