Opposition BJP and Congress today stalled the business of Odisha assembly demanding action against Kendrapara Superintendent of Police for misbehaving a journalist during road show of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik yesterday.
The house witnesses uproarious scenes as the BJP and Congress members trooped into the well, raised slogan, sat on dharna and demanded action against the SP forcing Speaker S N Patro to adjourn the house seven times during the zero hour.
The Opposition also demanded ruling from the Speaker directing the government to take strong action against Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Niti Sekhar.
The agitated BJP legislators sat on the floor of the house in protest forcing the speaker to adjourn the house six times in a row from 1149hrs to 1250hrs and finally at 1257hrs till 1500hrs for lunch without transacting any business.
Raising the issue during zero hour, the Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik alleged that Kendrapara SP has manhandled the Journalist which is an insult to the fourth pillar.
He said, such incidents are happening time and again. Earlier also a journalist in Puri was also similarly attacked.
Condemning the incident, Naik said it has become a habit of the BJD government to attack media people. He demanded the speaker to direct the government to take strong action against the SP.
Tara Prasad Bahinipati (Congress) said it is not clear what form of government is now functioning in the state.
Bishnu Sethi (BJP) said the safety and security of media persons has created a big question mark.
He said the government should enact a law on the lines of Maharashtra for the security of journalists and demanded a ruling from the Speaker.
The members of the BJP and Congress rushed to the well after the Speaker refused to give any ruling and said since the SP had already tendered an apology there is no need for further discussion on it and asked Mr Pradip Maharathi (BJD) to speak.
The BJP members than sat on the floor of the house in protest.
Sensing that the business of the house could no longer be conducted smoothly any more, the Speaker first adjourned the house for 15 minutes at 1149hrs and subsequently five times.
