Bhubaneswar: Protesting Speaker`s refusal to allow for a debate on the sensational Pipili rape case, opposition Congress on Saturday boycotted Odisha assembly amidst pandemonium during most of the day.
"We will not attend assembly proceedings unless the speaker accepts the adjournment motion notice given by our party," leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh announced before leading a walkout.
Alleging that the political arrogance of the ruling BJD has destroyed the democratic process in Odisha Assembly, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said: "It was simply a dishonour to democracy as the Speaker deprived the members from discussing a sensitive and important matter like the rising atrocities on women".
The issue was first raised during the question hour by Singh who wanted to know about the fate of the adjournment notice given by his party to the Speaker three days ago.
"How can the speaker deny permission to hold a debate on the recent incident like a series of rapes in different places of the state," he asked.
While rejecting the opposition notice on adjournment motion, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat, however, said: "I am disallowing the debate on the issue as it is not recent one. I can only allow a debate on an issue which occurred recently".
PTI
