Ruckus in house over Vaishnaw issue

Bhubaneswar: The Congress created a ruckus in the assembly for the second consecutive day on Wednesday by raising the issue of BJD-BJP nexus over nomination of former IAS officer Ashwini Vaishnaw to the Rajya Sabha.
During zero hour, Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra demanded a statement from chief minister Naveen Patnaik over Vaishnaw’s alleged proximity with the mining mafia and his name figuring in a state government’s report over allotment of properties under the discretionary quota (DQ). The BJP nominated the former IAS officer as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha byelection while the ruling BJD, despite having the number to send its own leader, supported Vaishnaw’s candidature.
“Never in the history of India, a ruling party has gifted a Rajya Sabha seat to an opposition party. This proves that the BJD and BJP have a secret understanding. Even as BJP is technically the opposition party in the assembly, they are with the ruling party in reality,” said Mishra.
The Congress veteran said Taradatt panel that inquired into the allotment of properties in the twin cities under DQ found that Vaishnaw is a beneficiary under the DQ scheme. The vigilance is inquiring into the allotment process. “Will the chief minister inform the house whether vigilance has exonerated him?,” Mishra said.
He also said how a person, who is not an Odia and is hand in gloves with the mining mafia, is going to protect the interest of the state? “Those who loot the mineral resources of the state are sent to represent us in the Rajya Sabha. This is very unfortunate,” said Mishra.
Congress leaders Santosh Singh Saluja also raised the issue alleging Vaishnaw has business links with kin of BJP top brass and demanded a statement from the chief minister on it. The Congress members trooped to the well raising slogans against the speaker and ruling party thereby disrupting the proceedings as Speaker Surya Narayan Patro allowed the adjournment motion without giving any ruling on their demand. An all-party meeting convened by the speaker ended the deadlock.
Vaishnaw said the allegations against him are baseless. “Those who are making such allegations should seek an inquiry into the matter. I will give all relevant details after the Rajya Sabha byelection is over,” Vaishnaw told reporters here.
Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said chief minister Naveen Patnaik has clearly stated that BJD extended support to Vaishnaw’s candidature following a request from the Prime Minister. Hence, it should not be made an issue, Mishra said. Senior BJP leader Jayanarayan Mishra said people of the state have given them mandate to be the key opposition and their behaviour in future will say whether they are the real opposition or not.