Opposition demands resignation of Odisha excise minister over alcohol deaths

Bhubaneswar: There was a fourth day of commotion in the Odisha state assembly on Friday as both the opposition BJD and Congress demanded the resignation of Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan over alcohol-related deaths in Ganjam district.

As soon as the House met for Question Hour at 10.30 am, opposition members from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress gathered in the well and shouted slogans demanding the resignation of the excise minister. They held the BJP government responsible for the distribution of spurious liquor in Ganjam and other parts of the state.

The state government has already announced a probe by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) into the alcohol-related deaths in Ganjam district, as demanded by the BJD. However, the regional party demanded that the excise minister be sacked on moral grounds.

At least two persons died and 13 others were undergoing treatment at the MKCG Medical College Hospital in Berhampur after consuming spurious liquor in Chikiti area of ​​Ganjam district on Monday night.

While the opposition members staged an agitation in the well of the House, two BJD MLAs tried to climb the dais of Speaker Surama Padhy, forcing her to adjourn the sitting till 11.30 am. The women MLAs of the opposition party also tried to forcibly enter the dais of the Speaker via the stairs.

When the House reconvened at 11.30 am, Zero Hour was held and both the government and the opposition agreed to a debate on the issue.

“The government claims many things, including action against the liquor mafia. But in reality, the current government can do little but change the names of the previous government’s plans,” said opposition leader Pramila Mallik, alleging a nexus between the incumbent government and the liquor mafia.

Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam said, “The excise minister should resign on moral grounds after the death of two people in the alcohol-related incident. Instead of regulating spurious liquor, there is a flood of illegal alcohol in the state.”

“We are forced to organise an agitation in the House as the government has not answered questions on illicit liquor trade. This problem is not limited to one area but has implications for the entire state. Our protest will continue,” said Congress MP Pabitra Saunta.

BJP MP Purna Sethi criticised the Opposition for the disruptions since the beginning of the second half of the session on Tuesday.

“This is just indiscipline. They (opposition) have no interest in addressing the problems of the people. Their only intention is to delay the process. They continued to create commotion despite the government accepting their demand for an RDC inquiry into the liquor tragedy,” Sethi said.

In defence of the Excise Minister, the members of the Treasury Bench pointed out that Harichandan had visited the affected people in the hospital and made arrangements for their proper treatment. The government has suspended two officials of the Excise Department and also transferred the Excise Superintendent of Berhampur.

They said the state government has launched a campaign against illegal sale of alcohol and more than 100 people have been arrested.

PTI