Orissa assembly adjourned over Rahul’s nocturnal visits

BHUBANESHWAR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s secret night visits during his Orissa tour rocked the state assembly on Tuesday amidst heated exchanges between ruling BJD-BJP and the opposition, leading to adjournment of the house for more than three hours.

Raising the issue through a special mention, BJD member Kalpataru Das termed Rahul’s unscheduled visits at night in Koraput and Ganjam as a serious security breach. Das pointed out that the sudden visits undertaken without prior information to the local securitymen, gave anxious moments to the local police, which was responsible for the young leader’s protection and safety.

His views were strongly backed by members belonging to the ruling BJD and BJP but evoked protest from the main opposition Congress. Taking exception to the issue being raised in the house, Congress members observed that since Rahul Gandhi was not a member of the assembly, matters concerning him should not be raked up by the MLAs.

Even as the issue triggered heated exchanges between treasury and opposition benches with some members advancing towards the well, Congress MLAs raised the issue of lawyers’ agitation for establishment of permanent high court benches in Western and Southern Orissa.

Congress members soon stormed the well demanding discussion on the lawyer’s issue and sought to move an adjournment motion.