Mrunal Manmay Dash

Bhubaneswar: Terming the suicide bid by Deogarh MLA Subash Panigrahi in the Odisha Assembly as a violation of House rules, Speaker, Surjya Narayan Patro on Sunday said that there is no harm in an apology as demanded by the ruling party from the BJP member if that is what needed to bring the house in order.

“It depends on the BJP to decide the further course of action. But as far as my opinion on the issue is concerned, if BJP comes on the same page as the treasury bench then the House can run smoothly," said Patro.

"The demand by the ruling party MLAs to tender an apology from Panigrahi is justified and there is no harm in doing so," Patro surmised.

Citing the sanctity of the Assembly, he further said, "There is a set of rules adhering to which the House runs. The one who deviates from that rule will be deemed as violating it. And as far as any action against the 'erring' MLA is concerned, I will have to send the resolution against him in accordance with the House and if the House passes it then only I can take any action."

However, the demand of an apology was rubbished by Congress MLA Suresh Routray on Sunday.

Speaking to the media Routray said, "While the suicide bid inside the House was irresponsible and wrong, the demand for an apology from him is equally laughable."

It is worth mentioning here that BJP MLA from Deogarh, Subash Chandra Panigrahi had attempted to commit suicide by drinking the contents from a bottle of hand sanitiser alleging the State government’s failure in resolving various issues related to the agrarian distress in the State during briefing by the State Supplies Minister Ranendra Swain.

Following that, the BJD MLAs and Ministers on Saturday trooped into the Well of the House and raised slogans stating that they will not let the House run till the BJP MLA apologises for his act in the Assembly.

(Edited By Suryakant Jena)

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