BHUBANESWAR: Opposition Congress and BJP on Wednesday walked out of the Assembly expressing their displeasure over the State Government’s reply to the alleged delay in tabling the special report of the Lokpal on Vedanta University issue. The Government has not tabled the report in the House despite three directives from the Governor, Opposition chief whip Prasad Harichandan said. Alleging that the Government is trying to suppress the report as it reportedly had adverse remarks against the Chief Minister and his office, Harichandan wanted to know whether the Governor had written to the Chief Minister on Tuesday to place the report in the House. Has the Governor asked the Government to place the report in the House during the ongoing session along with the explanatory memorandum, Harichandan asked and demanded to know whether the Government will abide by the direction. The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice. Harichandan said the House has a right to know why the report has not been tabled even after the Cabinet’s approval. Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said the Lokpal had submitted his special report to the Governor on May 3, 2011. Stating that the Lokpal’s annual consolidated report had not been tabled since 2005-06, Singh said the ombudsman had to submit a special report as the Government did not comply with its earlier report on March 17, 2010. Criticising the ‘double standard’ of the Government, Naba Kishore Das (Cong) alleged that the special report has not been tabled as it had exposed the wrongdoings of the Government. Even though more than a year has elapsed, no action has been taken on the report.Describing the BJD Government as the most corrupt in the country, Jaynarayan Mishra (BJP) alleged that the report has clearly pointed fingers at the Chief Minister and his office. Former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had to quit in the wake of the Lokayukta’s report, but here there is no action, he said. Congress deputy leader Chakradhar Paik and Anup Sai (Cong) also criticised the Government for the delay in placing the report. Making a statement, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said the Government received the report from the Governor on May 6 and it will be placed in the House after the Higher Education department submits the explanatory memorandum. There is no undue and inordinate delay, the Minister said, adding that the Government does not want to hide anything from the House. He said the Government is actively considering to strengthen the Lokpal by bringing all elected representatives of panchayatiraj institutions and urban local bodies (ULBs) under its purview. The Lokpal has submitted 30 special reports, of which six have been tabled. Explanatory memorandum of 24 reports are being prepared, he said. Ruling BJD members Anant Das, Rabinarayan Nanda, Pratap Keshari Deb and Ramesh Chandra Chau Patnaik, however, criticised the Opposition for trying to drag the Governor into the controversy.
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