The State Assembly on Thursday witnessed frequent adjournments as Opposition members demanded a clarification on the allegation of visit of two women guests to a road show of Odisha Tourism conducted at Hyderabad on Government money and resignation of Tourism Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi for taking them as his personal guests.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik wanted that the Government clarify as to how two private persons named R Mohapatra (47) and her daughter SS Mahapatra were taken to the road show on Government money.

Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja severely criticized the Minister for spending public money for visit of two private persons. He raised a question as to why the full names of the two women were not mentioned in records.

“While the Government is talking big of 5T initiative, the House should be informed as to how huge amount of public money was spent for two women taken by the Minister to Hyderabad. The Chief Minister should dismiss Panigrahi from his Ministry,” Saluja demanded and urged the Speaker to give a ruling in this regard.

As Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro didn’t respond, Congress members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans.

Unable to run proceedings, the Speaker adjourned the House for 20 minutes at 12.11 and then twice till 3 pm.

When the House reassembled, Congress members also trouped into Well of the House and insisted on their demands.  Though the Speaker asked the Tourism Minister to give a reply, still the opposition members did not relent. Thereafter, the Speaker called an all party meeting by adjourning the House for 15 minutes. After three adjournments, Parliamentary Affairs Minister made a brief statement in which he said no Government Money was spent on visit of any private persons to the road show held at Hyderabad on October 4.