The Hindu, Nov 9, 2010
The passage of two bills for change of name of Orissa and language of the state in the Lok Sabha was today marked by a clash between BJD and Congress after a member from the ruling benches attacked the Naveen Patnaik government for giving clearance apparently to Posco plant.
The Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2010 and Constitution (113th Amendment) Bill, 2010 for change of language were moved by Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the basis of resolutions passed by the Orissa Assembly.
The Bills provide for change of name of state to Odisha and language to Odia.
Soon after the Bills were moved for consideration, Congress member Bhakta Charan Das took the opportunity to attack the Navin Patnaik-led BJD government accusing it of playing into the hands of corporates.
Amid strong protests from BJD members, Das alleged that the Patnaik government was trying to convert the state into a land of corporates at the cost of tribals who are the original inhabitants of the region.
Apparently referring to the clearance given by the BJD government to Korean steel major Posco for setting up a plant despite reservations of the union environment ministry, Das accused the state government of violating the constitution and law.
He demanded the state government’s dismissal which was endorsed by thumping of desks by Congress members, including party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Das referred to efforts made by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, besides Sonia, Rajiv and Indira Gandhi to protect the interests of tribals in the state.
As the MP from Orissa launched the attack on the state government, Gandhi and others were seen egging him on even though Speaker Meira Kumar repeatedly told him to conclude his speech.
BJD members, meanwhile, continued to protest terming it as bipartisan debate. Kumar assured them that she would check the record and see if there was anything objectionable.
Normalcy was restored and the Bills were passed by division of votes with all 294 members present in the House voting in favour and none against.
Bartruhari Mahtab, Tathagata Satpathy and Prasanna Kumar Patasani (all BJD) were the main speakers during the debate on the Bill.
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