Bhubaneswar: The Bolangir farmer suicide issue rocked the Odisha Assembly once again today with leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra reiterating his allegation that sub-collector is responsible for the death of the peasant.
Members from the opposition benches created pandemonium over the issue, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 12. 45. Soon after the House reassembled, Congress members shouted against the government over the same matter. The Speaker had to adjourn the House again till 3pm.
Raising the issue during zero hour, Mishra, who represents the Bolangir Assembly segment, also demanded that the Protocol or Privilege committee of the House should take up the matter.
Speaker Niranjan Pujari ruled that a decision in this regard will be taken soon.
Congress members alleged that the officers are ruling the roost in the State while government has no control over them. They demanded that the sub-collector, who allegedly abetted the suicide of the farmer, should be summoned.
Senior BJP leader and former legislature party chief KV Singh Deo also supported the Congress demand.
The Congress and BJP had also stalled the House yesterday demanding immediate arrest of the administrative officer.
Nadighosh Barik, a resident of Harabhanga village under Loisinga police station, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree on March 21 after being allegedly harassed by the Bolangir district sub-collector, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra had alleged..
The farmer had lost his crop in three acres due to severe hailstorm on March 18, he added.
The issue was raised in the Assembly during zero hour by Mishra.
The brother of the victim has filed an FIR at Loisinga police station holding the district collector, sub-collector and the Chief minister responsible for the death, Mishra had informed the Assembly yesterday.