BJD MLAs tried to take the podium, Question Hour could not continue due to ruckus

Bhubaneswar: There was a huge stir in the Odisha Assembly for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as both the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress demanded the resignation of Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan over the incident of two people dying due to drinking allegedly poisonous liquor in Ganjam district. As the Question Hour began in the House at 10.30 am, MPs from the BJD and Congress came to the podium and started raising slogans demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister. It holds the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government responsible for the illegal sale of spurious liquor in Ganjam and other parts of the state. On the request of the BJD, the state government has already announced an inquiry by the Divisional Revenue Commissioner (RDC) into the incident of death of two persons due to consumption of alcohol in Ganjam district, but the regional party (BJD) has moved the Excise Minister on moral grounds. At least two people died after allegedly consuming poisonous liquor in Chikiti area of ​​Ganjam district on Monday night and 13 others are being treated at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Brahmapur. While opposition members were protesting in the House, two BJD MPs tried to climb the podium due to which the debate in the House had to be adjourned till 11.30 am. The women MPs of the opposition party tried to forcefully reach the Speaker’s seat through the stairs. The debates in the House resumed at 11.30 am and both the government and the opposition agreed to discuss the issue.

BJD alleges nexus between government and liquor mafia

Opposition leader Pramila Malik alleged a nexus between the present government and the liquor mafia, saying that the government claims to have taken many steps, including action against the liquor mafia, but in reality the present government is changing the names of the previous government’s schemes. It cannot do anything else. Congress Legislature Party leader Ramchandra Kadam said that after the death of two people in a liquor-related incident, the Excise Minister should resign on moral grounds. BJP MLA Purna Sethi slammed the opposition for creating disturbances right from the beginning of the second part of the session on Tuesday. Defending the Excise Minister, the ruling party members said that Harichandan went to the hospital, met the affected people and made arrangements for their proper treatment. The government has suspended two officials of the Excise Department and also transferred the Superintendent of Excise from Brahmapur. He said the state government has launched a drive against illegal sale of liquor under which more than 100 people have been arrested.

BJD MLAs have not learnt to respect woman Assembly Speaker: BJP

BJP MLAs have condemned the way the BJD MLAs treated the Assembly Speaker during Question Hour today and the Assembly Speaker Surma Padhi had to remain surrounded by security personnel. Chikitti MLA Manoranjan Dyan Samantrai, reacting to this incident, said that the opposition has not learnt to respect the Assembly Speaker. The way the opposition MLAs behaved on the stage is highly condemnable. He said that the opposition is afraid of facing the truth. It remained steeped in corruption for 24 years. Now they are afraid to talk about it. Such behaviour of the opposition is not appropriate in a democracy. Another BJP MLA from Ganjam, Purna Sethi, said that this is nothing but indiscipline. The opposition MLAs have no interest in raising their grievances. Unfortunately, the opposition members are trying to stop the Assembly’s workings.

We do not disrespect the Speaker of the Assembly: Madhav Dhada

After the incident of the speaker trying to come on the podium during the question hour of the assembly, BJD MLA Madhav Dhada has given a clarification on the matter. He said that the BJD MLA has not insulted the Assembly Speaker. He said that “Respect for Mother” was the motto of Biju Janata Dal and it will remain so in future as well. We opposed the undemocratic process in the case of alcohol deaths. I did not disrespect the Assembly Speaker. In the case of alcohol death, we demanded the resignation of the minister. But the Assembly Speaker did not listen to us. He has not done what he should have done in the position he is in. That is why we opposed it democratically.

Excise Minister should resign on moral grounds: BJD

BJD MLA Byomkesh Rai has demanded that the state Excise Minister resign on moral grounds in the Chikiti poisonous liquor death case. Raising the issue during Zero Hour after the Question Hour was marred by ruckus, Rai said that the people of Odisha are worried and scared over the issue of deaths due to poisonous liquor consumption. The Excise Minister’s reaction on this is ridiculous. The BJP had said during the election campaign that if the government comes to power, alcohol consumption would be banned. But now it is not fulfilling its promise. He said that the government has no control over the officials, due to which such incidents take place. Shri Rai said that the Excise Minister does not talk about his department but about other issues. The state government is responsible for this incident. Therefore, on moral grounds the minister should resign.

The Congress also demanded the resignation of the Minister of Excise

Congress legislature party leader Ramchandra Kadam said that suspending an officer in the Chikitti case is not a punishment. He said that in this matter, the Congress is demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Kadam said that after the BJP government came to power, there was a flood of liquor in the state. The problem is increasing since the coming of this government. The government is responsible for deaths due to alcohol. In the previous government, many ministers had resigned due to alcohol, now why is the present government silent on this matter?

Six people arrested in Chikiti liquor case, further action being taken: Excise Minister

In the spurious liquor scandal in Chikiti of Ganjam district, local police have arrested six accused involved in illegal sale of spurious liquor. The accused include Ravi Sahu (28), Bapimi Sahu (34), Baya Sahu (56), Balram Vishoi (65), Surendra Mallik (40), Ram Mallik (62). Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Friday informed the Odisha Assembly about the ongoing efforts to tackle the poisonous liquor case in Chikitti in Ganjam district. Responding to the adjournment notice by Congress MPs Ramchandra Kadam and Ashok Kumar Das, the minister said that till August 22, 366 cases of illegal liquor trade have been registered and 266 accused have been arrested. 26,626 litres of illicit liquor have been seized. He said that in this case, 18 patients were initially admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Chikitsi, where they were given immediate first aid. Later, 15 patients were shifted to Brahmapur MKCG Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. On August 21, the death of Jura Behera and Loknath Behera of Jenapur village under Chikiti police station was reported. Harichandan said that to deal with the situation, a multidisciplinary team was formed under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police, Ganjam, which included officials from the health department, sarpanch, members of the local ward, revenue officers, police and block administration. He said that a public awareness campaign was launched, urging that immediate treatment be provided to the affected people.

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