The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday slapped a seven-day suspension order on senior Congress legislator Naba Das for watching obscene video clippings on his smart phone inside the House during the session.
The matter came to light on Monday triggering a row in the state’s political circles. While announcing the suspension order, the Speaker Niranjan Pujari also ordered a probe into the entire episode by the assembly ethics committee.
The Speaker pronounced his decision on the basis of a motion passed in the House during the Zero Hour on Tuesday. The motion was moved by the chief whip of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Ananta Das.
In his reaction Naba Das, a two-time MLA from Jharsuguda constituency in western Odisha described the Speaker’s move “undemocratic”. He also charged the ruling BJD of hatching a political conspiracy against him.
“It is unfortunate that the Speaker took action against me without giving me an opportunity to present my side of the story. He did not wait till investigation is over. Even the court never convicts a person without a trial. I request the Speaker to re-consider his decision”, he said.
Other Congress legislators supported their party colleague and staged a walkout in the House protesting the Speaker’s move. The legislature party of the BJP came forward in support of the Congress and disapproved of the Speaker’s decision.
“The Speaker should have waited till the inquiry against the Congress MLA is completed. It created a bad precedent. Hence, the Speaker should re-consider his decision”, senior BJP legislator and state party chief K V Singhdeo told reporters. The treasury bench member, however, supported the Speaker’s decision.
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