House on boil over tourism minister’s Hyderabad trip with women friends

Bhubaneswar, 28/11: The state assembly today witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue of Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi allegedly taking two women friends to Hyderabad on government cost, forcing adjournment of the proceedings. Congress had raised the issue at a press conference yesterday, Today the issue was raised in the state assembly during the zero hour. Raising the issue in the House, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik demanded a clarification from the accused minister. Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati also sought clarification from the minister over the issue. His colleague Suresh Kumar Routray ridiculed the minister for taking his personal friends on government cost. Denouncing the minister, Santosh Singh Saluja (Congress) said, “ Sarathi (self-styled godman) was imprisoned as he had taken a young women to Hyderabad. The same law should be adhered in case of the tourism minister”. The opposition legislators stormed the Well of the House demanding dismissal of the tourism minister. They caused uproar in the House pressing for the demand, forcing Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to adjourn the proceedings for 30 minutes. Later, clarifying the issue, Tourism Minister Panigrahi denied the allegation. " No government rules have been violated in this case. I reiterate that not a single pie has been spent from the state exchequer"