All party meet ends inconclusive

Bhubaneswar, March 16: The all party meet convened by the Odisha assembly Speaker today to resolve the 5 day-long impasse over the paddy procurement issue remained inconclusive today with both the sides remaining adamant on their stands. The Odisha assembly has been on the boil over the paddy procurement issue for the last 5 days since the beginning of the second part of the budget session, for which the House could not transact any business during the period. Today also, the House could not run for the same reason. Finally, Speaker Dr Surjya Narayan Patro convened an all party meeting in his chamber today afternoon to resolve the deadlock. However, the meeting failed to resolve the impasse as both ruling party and Opposition remained stuck to their stands. The ruling BJD members insisted on their demand for tendering apology to the House by BJP's Deogarh MLA, who had attempted to commit suicide in the Assembly on Friday by consuming hand sanitizer in protest against the alleged failure of the government in purchasing the paddy stocks from the farmers. "Panigrahi has ruined the sanctity of the House", said BJD chief whip Pramila Mallick. The BJP members on the other hand refused to accept the demand. "There is no point in Panigrahi tendering apology. He has done no wrong. Rather, the state government has failed to keep the assurance it has given in the House that it will purchase all the paddy stocks from the farmers. So, the government should beg apology to the people instead", said Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik, who walked out of the meeting. Earlier, the Congress had boycotted the all-party meet. "First, there should be discussion in the House as to how the paddy stocks lying in the mandis will be lifted". said Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati.