The Odisha Assembly was stalled for the second day today over dowry torture charges against former Law Minister Raghunath Mohanty as Congress MLAs stormed into the Well demanding his arrest and a debate in the House on rising atrocities againts women.
As soon as the House assembled, Opposition Congress members were on their feet raising the issue relating to dowry torture charges levelled against Mohanty by his daughter-in-law, which forced him to resign as Law and Urban Development Minister yesterday.
Citing the police case registered against Mohanty in Balasore following a FIR lodged by Barsha Sony Choudhury, the Congress legislators wanted a debate through an adjournment motion on rising atrocities against women in the State.
Pressing for a debate in the House, the Congress members trooped into the well and tried to climb onto the Speaker’s table shouting slogans against the Government.
As uproarious scenes persisted following rejection of their demand for discussion on atrocities against women, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House till 3 p.m. barely two minutes after commencement of the Question Hour.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh told reporters outside the House that the Government was trying to evade discussion on the issue. He sought to know as to why the case against Mohanty has been handed over to the Human Rights Protection Cell of state police for investigation.
The Congress leaders said that in view of seriousness of the charges against Mohanty and his family members, stern action must be taken against them and if necessary arrests should be made.