Odisha Assembly stalled over rapes of minors

The Odisha Assembly was paralysed for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress continued demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation over growing incidents of missing children and rape cases of minors.

Speaker Surya Narayan Patro could not run the House even after adjourning it seven times. As the opposition parties did not relent, the Speaker called an all-party meeting.

The House will discuss the issue of rapes of minors and missing children on Wednesday.

Both the opposition parties disrupted the House from the beginning of the question hour and it continued till the evening. Later, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.

"The Chief Minister is remaining absent in the House as he is not willing to give a clarification on this matter, which has brought shame to the state. The state government has to act tough on the issue," leader of opposition Pradipta Naik said.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said that the House was adjourned as the government is afraid of the opposition raising the issues.

"If there is no debate in the House on the rising rape cases and missing children, then what is the meaning of running the House," said Mishra.

The Opposition BJP and Congress had on Monday stalled the proceedings of the house on the same issues.

Meanwhile, the Odisha Congress on Tuesday said it will resort to a statewide protest on Wednesday.

Mishra said the party will stage protests in all district headquarters on the rising rape cases.

( With inputs from IANS )