MLA abduction: No end to din in House

BHUBANESWAR: The Assembly on Monday witnessed uproarious scenes over the abduction of BJD legislator Jhina Hikaka by  Maoists with Opposition Congress MLAs marching into the Well demanding a discussion on the issue. The House met for 22 minutes during the Question Hour after which it had to be adjourned by Speaker Pradip Amat amidst Congress sloganeering against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the State Government.  As soon as the Question Hour started, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh wanted to know the whereabouts of the abducted MLA. Demanding resignation of the Chief Minister over the issue, Singh alleged that the MLA had been sacrificed only for a vote to win Koraput ZP president’s post. The sloganeering continued with several members trying to climb onto the Speaker’s podium.  Noisy scenes continued when the House reassembled at 12.30 pm. Congress members shouted slogans even as the Chief Minister was reading the statement on the hostage crisis. The Speaker had to adjourn the House soon after Naveen finished reading the statement.ALL-PARTY MEET: The House could not meet even for a minute in the afternoon as attempts to reach an agreement on the issue failed. The all-party meeting, convened by the Speaker on the issue, remained inconclusive. While the Opposition demanded a discussion on the abduction in the House, the Government wanted to issue an appeal only. The Congress MLAs, however, continued to occupy the Well even after it was adjourned for the day. They have decided to remain in the House in the night also. The Congress MLAs are in the Well since Saturday evening demanding a discussion on the hostage crisis in the House. Talking to this paper, leader of the BJP Legislature Party (BJPLP) KV Singhdeo criticised the State Government for avoiding a discussion on the issue. “We want the abduction issue be discussed in the House,” he said. KV demanded a CBI probe into the alleged links between the BJD and the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS).