Congress MLA climbs on Orissa Speaker's podium

An Opposition Congress member on Tuesday climbed on the Speaker's podium in the Orissa assembly demanding Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's resignation.

Rajendra Kumar Chatria climbed on the podium after he along with two party members scuffled with the security staff in the state assembly. Unable to run the House due to the pandemonium, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat announced adjournment of the House till 3:00 pm.

"It is unfortunate that the Hon'bl Congress members are behaving in a unruly manner," Patnaik told mediapersons outside the state assembly, terming the demand for his resignation as unjustified.

Congress members have been demanding Patnaik's resignation and pressing for action against Vedanta and other officials involved in land acquisition for Vedanta University project in Puri after Orissa high court termed it illegal and ordered state government to return the land to the owners.

The winter session of the state assembly which began on November 23 has been witnessing repeated adjournments and pandemonium with the Opposition Congress members demanding the resignation of the chief minister.

Later 24 ruling Biju Janata Dal MLAs met the Speaker in his chamber and asked him to restore normalcy in the House. "I have heard the concerns expressed by treasury bench members. You (Congress MLAs) have the right to protest. But please do not interfere into rights of others," Amat told mediapersons.