Odisha Legislative Council Row: Speaker Patro To Write To Union Minister Rijiju

A day after several BJD leaders criticised Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju's statement over the formation of a Legislative Council in Odisha in the Rajya Sabha recently, State Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro raked up the issue once again on Saturday.

Patro reportedly said that two letters related to the matter will be dispatched soon. While one will be addressed to all the Parliamentarians from the State Assembly- which will include a copy of the resolution passed in the Odisha Assembly in 2018, he will personally write the other letter to the Union Minister. 

Patro said that in his letter he will call upon the Union Minister to conduct a probe to identify the official who had provided him (Minister) incorrect information about the resolution passed by the Odisha legislature.

"A copy of the resolution passed in the Assembly had been sent to different departments of the Central government on September 18, 2018. Once again, I will write a letter regarding the matter to the concerned departments and attach a copy of the letter. I will also write a letter personally to the Union Minister," said Patro.

It is pertinent to mention here that Union Minister Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the Centre was still to receive any resolution passed by the Odisha Assembly for the formation of a Legislative Council in the State while answering BJD MP Prasanna Acharya's question. On Friday, his answer evoked sharp reactions from several BJD leaders including the Assembly Speaker.

However, the Union Minister is yet to respond over the matter.