Orissa opposition parties walked out of assembly over alleged irregularities in Rajya Sabha polls

Orissadiary.com, June 23, 2010
Report by Dipti Ranjan Kanungo; Bhubaneswar: Orissa opposition walked out of assembly over alleged irregularities in Rajya Sabha polls. Replying to the adjournment motion on disappearance of Sibaji Majhi, the FIR on the incident and subsequent police action, the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed in the House on Wednesday that the police had taken prompt action to trace the Congress legislature.


The Chief Minister said that two complaints were lodged with police alleging kidnapping of Majhi before the Rajya Sabha poll on June 17. One complaint was lodged at the Capital Police Station by the Kalahandi MP and party's working president Bhakta Charan Das on June 16, and another similar complaint lodged by Majhi's wife at Lanjigarh police station on the next day.

The police had taken prompt action to trace the alleged kidnapping Congress legislature Sri Majhi. A massive manhunt was launched in all probable areas to trace the legislature. All SPs of the state were requested to keep track on the Sri Majhi, besides his family members, relatives and friends were contacted to get information regarding him

The Chief Minister expressed that On June 17 night, the SP, Khurda received a telephone call in which the caller introducing himself as Sibaji Majhi, informed that he was in Kolkata in connection with the medical treatment.

Further the Chief Minister expressed that again on the next day June 18, Sri Majhi called the DCP, Bhubaneswar and informed that he was admitted in a private hospital here for treatment and also sought protection. However, Majhi who was now under treatment at a private hospital here due to chest pain, had already informed that he was not kidnapped.

Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan termed Orissa police as "political police." "Neither Majhi's wife ,relatives nor media persons were allowed to meet Majhi, The ruling party had kept Majhi under police custody.

The chief minister expressed that as per the advice and restriction of the senior cardiology consultants to avoid crowd, Sri Majhi preferred not to meet people at hospital. Majhi's brother To-day (Wednesday) was allowed to meet him in the hospital. After reply of the Chief Minister, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amata rejected the adjournment motion.

From the opposition parties leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh, Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan, Nabakishore Das , Gobardhan Das, Jayanarayan Das take part in the discussion, while Pravat Kumar Tripathy, Amar Prasad Satpathy, Sanjaya Dasburma countered them.

Congress members led by leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh expressing their dissatisfaction over reply of the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demanded formation of a house committee to investigate into the alleged kidnapping, Congress and BJP members walked out of the assembly.