BHUBANESWAR: The State Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over the decision of Railway Ministry to shift the proposed wagon repair factory from Narla in Kalahandi district to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh with Congress and BJD members strongly opposing the move.
While the Congress members rushed to the well of the House demanding a discussion on the issue forcing Speaker Niranjan Pujari to adjourn the Assembly till 3 pm, BJD members alleged that the decision is yet another instance of Central neglect towards Odisha.
Congress and BJP members staged a walk out from the House when it reassembled at 3 pm demanding a discussion on the issue.
Earlier, during zero hour, Amar Prasad Satpathy (BJD) criticised the Railway Ministry for taking the plea of water scarcity to shift the proposed wagon factory to Andhra Pradesh. Describing it as a conspiracy against interest of Odisha, Satpathy demanded a reconsideration of the decision. His party colleague Dibyashankar Mishra said a resolution should be passed in the House condemning such a decision.
Leader of Opposition Narsingh Mishra also criticised the decision to shift the wagon factory from Narla to another State. He, however, blamed Odisha MPs and alleged that the Lok Sabha members were not vigilant enough and failed to mount pressure on the Centre. The decision of the Railways came to the fore through RTI application of a Congress activist, Mishra said.
He requested Pujari to allow a discussion on the matter after cancelling all other business in the House. As Pujari moved to other business, angry Congress members rushed to the well and attempted to climb the speaker’s podium resulting in adjournment of the House.
State BJP president KV Singhdeo told this paper that the issue should be discussed in the House. “The ruling BJD cannot get away by always blaming the Centre,” he said. His party colleague Rabi Naik said no decision has so far been taken in this regard by the Ministry. This is only a proposal of the Railway Board, he said.
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