'PC' row rocks Assembly again

Bhubaneswar: Pandemonium continues in State Assembly for the second consecutive day over the Opposition's demand for special discussion on collection of 'PC' or percentage commission through adjournment notice.

Soon after the House assembled for the day, members of the Opposition bench rushed to the well and demanded discussion on the matter even as the Speaker rejected the notice given by the Congress.

The Congress said the Government is afraid of Opposition for which the House has been adjourned. "The adjournment notice was not accepted as the Chief Minister has no answers to the questions of Opposition. When Opposition members protested the rejection of notice, the Speaker adjourned the House. As the CM stressed on zero tolerance towards PC, we demanded a special discussion in the House as the illegal activity is growing in State," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said.

Similarly, BJD termed the Opposition's move a deliberate attempt to stall Assembly proceedings. "People's issues are discussed during question hour. The Congress deliberately frustrated the people of Odisha by stalling House proceedings. They could have raised the ‘PC’ issue through their questions and concerned minister would reply," Minister Damodar Rout said.

The BJP however supported the concerns of the Congress. "As PC collection is rampant in various departments, the quality of works in every sector is diminishing. So, we demanded this culture to be stopped at the earliest," BJP MLA Rabi Nayak said.