BHUBANESWAR: Proceedings in the assembly was stalled during the pre-lunch session today over the issue of rape of two minor girls in Balasore district with the Congress members creating noisy scenes alleging that the government is trying to hush up the incidents. The opposition members demanded a statement from chief minister Naveen Patnaik as in the Nilagiri incident it has been alleged that a powerful local BJD leader is shielding the guilty person.
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a local youth yesterday when she had gone out to attend a fair in Soro police station area of the district. The incident happened two days after another four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour and her private parts mutilated in Nilagiri area of the district.
As soon as the question hour started, leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and requested Speaker Pradip Amat to suspend the question hour to discuss the issue. He said as the chief minister holds the home portfolio, the speaker should
ask him to give a statement in the house on the incidents.
Congress members rushed to the well of the house shouting slogans as the Speaker decided to continue with the question hour. The Speaker had to adjourn the house till 11.30 am because of the noisy scenes. The opposition members did not relent when the house reassembled and continued slogan shouting in the well reiterating their demand. The Speaker had to adjourn the house till 3 pm.
The Speaker convened an all-party meeting to find out a solution to end the stalemate after the house reassembled at 3 pm. The house remained adjourned till 4 pm as the meeting continued. Normalcy
returned to the house after the all party meeting was over. Sources said that a decision was taken to discuss the issue in the house.
The leader of the opposition told mediapersons outside the house that though crime like brutal rape has spread from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir to Odisha like an epidemic, the state government
has remained a mute spectator. “Though rape of minor girls took place in Soro and Nilagiri in Balasore district, the state government is yet to take any action,” he said.
Meanwhile, BJD MLA from Nilagiri Sukant Nayak said he came to know about the incident from TV and social media. He said the police is investigating into the incident and guilty will be punished. Nayak said he does not have any relation with person against whom a rape complaint has been lodged.