The demand for the arrest of former minister Raghunath Mohanty over dowry torture charges intensified with the Opposition Congress stalling the proceedings of the Assembly for the second day on Saturday while several organisations took out rallies outside the House.
The House could meet for only 17 minutes during the day as the Congress members shouted slogans in the well of the House demanding Raghunath’s immediate arrest and a debate in the House on rising atrocities on women in the State.
As soon as the House assembled, the Congress members were on their feet raising the issue relating to dowry torture charge levelled against Raghunath by his daughter-in-law, which forced him to resign as Law and Urban Development Minister on Friday.
Citing the police case registered against Raghunath in Balasore following an FIR lodged by his daughter-in-law Barsha Sony Choudhury, the Congress legislators wanted a debate through an adjournment motion on rising atrocities against women in the State.
Pressing for a debate in the House, the Congress members trooped into the well and tried to climb onto the Speaker’s table shouting slogans against the Government. As uproarious scenes persisted following rejection of their demand for discussion on atrocities against women, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House till 3 pm barely two minutes after commencement of the question hour.
Noisy scenes continued in the House during the afternoon session also as the Congress members continued to raise slogans in the well of the House. The demand for grants of the Water Resources department was passed only in 15 minutes.
Criticising the Speaker for not allowing discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh told mediapersons that the State Government is trying to evade discussion on the issue. He sought to know as to why the case against Raghunath has been handed over to the Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of the State police for investigation.
Singh alleged that by handing over the case to the HRPC, the Chief Minister has made it clear that he does not have any confidence on the police. Or else, he is delaying the entire process to give some breathing space to Raghunath, he said.