Cong raises 'relief loot' issue in Assembly, debate denied

Bhubaneswar: Congress on accused the ruling BJD MLAs and corporators of misappropriating relief materials meant for victims of 'Cyclone Phailin', but Speaker Pradip Amat rejected the Opposition demand for an adjournment motion on the issue in Odisha assembly.

"Since the subject of the adjournment notice does not come under the category of recent occurrence, the House cannot debate over it," Amat said.

Congress members led by the party's chief whip Prasad Harichandan, however, raised the issue during the zero hour and demanded tabling of the reports made by Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Commissioner and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), central division.

Harichandan alleged that both the CMC Commissioner and the RDC, in their reports, referred to involvement of ruling BJD MLAs and corporators in the alleged plunder. He claimed that the local police had seized stolen relief materials from a government quarter belonging to irrigation department.

Agriculture Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, however, responded to the opposition charge and said the Congress move to bring an adjournment notice in the House was made with an eye on the CMC election tomorrow.