BHUBANESWAR: A remark made by former minister Damodar Rout in the Assembly on Monday that “dual loyalty” of the police led to the firing at Phasipada village in Ganjam district, resulted in a heated discussion. The Opposition wanted the point to be included in the terms of reference of the judicial commission constituted to probe the incident.
The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice on the incident.
Raising a point of order, Rout said the firing would not have taken place but for the dual loyalty of the police.
Prasad Harichandan (Cong) seized the opportunity provided by the BJD member to embarrass the State Government and wanted to know who was the other person to whom the police are loyal besides the Chief Minister. As the Chief Minister holds the Home portfolio, the police should be loyal to him, Harichandan said. But Rout has said the firing took place with the approval of the “other person”. Harichandan sought inclusion of the remark in the terms of reference of the judicial commission. This will help present a clear picture of the incident, he added.
The Congress leader, however, maintained that announcement of a commission is no solution as several such commissions announced by the Government to investigate different incidents are yet to submit their reports.
The Chief Minister, however, ignored the point while replying to the notice.