Congress demands ED probe into Vedanta "deal"

Vedanta controversy continued to paralyse Orissa assembly today with Opposition Congress demanding a probe by Enforcement Directorate into alleged monetary benefit taken by some MLAs.

Vedanta controversy continued to paralyse Orissa assembly on Monday with Opposition Congress demanding a probe by Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged monetary benefit taken by some MLAs.

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As soon as the house assembled for the day, Congress members trooped into the well creating pandemonium, forcing Speaker Pradip Amat to adjourn the assembly barely 16 minutes after commencement of the question hour.

When the House reassembled, the issue was raised by Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan during the zero hour.

"BJD MLA from Pipili on Saturday had accused the leader of opposition and me of taking money. Everybody knows who are beneficiaries in Vedanta affair. Therefore, I demand a probe by ED," Harichandan said demanding expunging of the BJD MLA's allegation from the record of the house.

Harichandan said this while his partymen were inside the well demanding resignation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik in the wake of Orissa High Court judgement declaring land acquisition for Vedanta University near Puri as illegal.

BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy on Saturday had accused the two senior Congress members of taking money but not sharing it with other members of the party. "Therefore, other Congress members are repeatedly creating noise in the house", Maharathy claimed amidst noise and anti-government slogans.

As Harichandan accused the Pipili MLA of forging his educational qualification and facing several criminal cases, Maharathy objected. "I will resign from membership of this house, if Harichandan proves I am not a graduate," he said.

The BJD legislator claimed he was a graduate with Education Honours in first class from SCS College in Puri.

As uproar prevailed, the speaker again adjourned the House till 3 pm.