Storm over Naba Das murder continues in Odisha Assembly as 'BJD hides behind House rules of business'

Even after 43 days have passed since the assassination of the then Health minister Naba Kishore Das, the Odisha Crime Branch is yet to make any headway in determining the motive of accused Gopal Das.

The issue was raked up by the Congress and then taken forward by the BJP in the Assembly during the Zero Hour on Monday.

Congress leader, Narasingha Mishra said, “When the Minister of State, Home department has already informed the House that the Crime Branch is now probing the conspiracy angle, he should also clarify who is the suspect and the type of conspiracy; whether it was a business-rivalry or a personal one.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too raked up the issue by demanding a CBI investigation into the murder case.

However, the ruling BJD shied away from the Opposition questions on Naba Das murder case and accused the Opposition of breaking the rules of the Assembly by raising the murder case multiple times.

“As per the rules of business of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, a topic once discussed in the House cannot be repeated again. The Opposition is trying to rake up the topic of Naba Das’ death multiple times, that is why I brought this breach of rule to the attention of the Speaker,” said BJD MLA, Amar Prasad Satapathy.

“The House does not allow to comment on matters subjudice in a court of law. The Opposition does not seem to pay heed to this norm too. They are only trying to mislead the House with only one or two issues, which is not acceptable at all,” he added.

However, Narasingha Mishra slammed the BJD for trying to divert the public attention from the murder of Naba Das.

“Those who do not know the basic difference between an investigation and probe, do not have any moral authority to remain in office. Rules of business of the Assembly states that a topic cannot be repeated. But nowhere it is written that a topic cannot be raised in a zero hour, if there is not any discussion on the topic.”

“People saying a topic cannot be discussed twice in the House, are only manifesting their ignorance. The assassination of Minister Naba Das is a sensitive matter. No rule of any House can deem the topic unfit to be discussed even every day,” Mishra added.

(Reported by Harihar Chand, Jagdis Das, OTV)