Opposition Congress and BJP stalled proceedings of the Odisha Assembly on Monday demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik…
Odisha Assembly (Photo: odishaassembly.nic.in)
Opposition Congress and BJP stalled proceedings of the Odisha Assembly on Monday demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the inordinate delay in appointment of Lokayukta in the state.
Leader of the Opposition and former law minister Narasingha Mishra raised the issue and demanded a reply from the CM.
Though the Odisha government had passed the Lokayukta law four years ago, it was sitting over the matter, he charged.
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The BJP members echoed the same demand. Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the House for lunch amid noisy scenes.
The Odisha Assembly passed the Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014, four years ago with provision of keeping the CM, all former CMs, other ministers and public servants under the purview of a six-member anti-corruption panel.
The Bill, introduced on February 12, 2014, was unanimously passed after a two-day discussion. The Bill has provisions similar to that of the central Act that was passed in Parliament in December 2013.
Patnaik had earlier announced that the state government would ensure passage of the bill within 90 days of the central Act. With passage of the Bill, the Odisha Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 1995 stood repealed.
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