NDTV.com: Orissa MLAs seek Speaker's resignation

NDTV.com: Orissa MLAs seek Speaker's resignation

Orissa MLAs seek Speaker's resignation

ALSO READ Orissa: Charges on Mohanty lead to chaos FIR filed against Orissa Assembly Speaker Orissa Speaker accused of harassment Rate the Story NDTV Active To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser. Also Read Uttarakhand goes the green way CPM meet to decide on third front: Basu Rajbir's murder was pre-planned: Police Tiger skin seized in Bihar, two arrested

Sampad Mahapatra Sunday, March 30, 2008 (Bhubaneshwar) Chaos reigned in the Orissa Assembly on Saturday over allegations of sexual harassment against the Speaker Maheshwar Mohanty. As soon as the House assembled, Opposition members started shouting slogans demanding his resignation. Some MLAs tried to climb on to the Speaker's podium. The Speaker has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman employee of the Assembly. Following the pandemonium, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House till 5 pm (IST). The Assembly was to pass the state budget on Saturday. BJD supporters in Puri, the Orissa Speaker's constituency said he's innocent. They're angry with the Marshal who claims the Speaker harassed her sexually. They said a BJD minister is conspiring against their MLA and the party is distancing itself from the protest. Dr Damodar Rout, Secretary General said that the party has nothing to do with whatever some people may have done out of anger or emotional reasons. Barely 60 kilometres away in Bhubaneswar, the Youth Congress wants action against the Speaker. They accuse the police of shielding the Speaker. But the police say the delay in registering the FIR was for a different reason. ''There is no question of hushing it up. We just want to know if Gayatri Panda is actually interested in filing the case or not. We even want to go and talk to her wherever she is,'' said Binoy Behera, Commissioner of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police. The Speaker has stopped coming to the Assembly. But the charges against him continue to rock the House.