File picture of investors protesting in Bhubaneswar against sham companies

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 24: The Opposition stalled proceedings during today’s Question Hour at the Assembly demanding that the adjournment motion on the sham deposit firm issue be taken up for discussion. When the BJD members did not agree to an immediate discussion, the Opposition disrupted the Question Hour.

As soon the as the proceedings of the House started, leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh and others wanted to know why the Speaker did not allow the adjournment motion on the issue for discussion. They waved placards and banners accusing chief minister Naveen Patnaik of allowing the fraud deposit-collection companies to go scot-free.

Later, they trooped into the well of the House demanding a discussion. As the stalemate continued, the Speaker adjourned the House soon after.

When the House resumed at 11.30am, the Opposition members again demanded a discussion on the issue. This time, BJD members upped their ante against the Centre for its “step-motherly attitude” towards the cause of the state. The BJD demanded that a censure motion be passed in the Assembly against the Centre for non-revision of mineral royalty.

BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy said: “Odisha is incurring a huge loss because of the non-revision of mineral loyalty. The state is losing Rs 5 crore on this account every year.” Another BJD member, Samir Ranjan Das, also argued in favour of passing a censure motion against the Centre.

However, BJP MLA K.V. Singh Deo said: “The party will not join hands in passing a resolution again on this issue. It had joined hands and helped the government pass a resolution demanding a special-category state status. However, the BJD tried to hijack the issue by organising a rally in New Delhi without inviting other political parties.”

BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra said: “Though western Odisha has a lot of mineral resources, its interests have been neglected for years.”

As the ruckus continued, the House was adjourned again. When the House resumed at 12.15pm, parliamentary affairs minister Kapalataru Das said the state government was ready for a discussion on the fraud deposit-collection companies, but not before Monday. Following his declaration, the Opposition softened its stand and the House resumed its normal business.