Orissa assembly adjourned over Vedanta varsity issue

BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa assembly was adjourned several times Tuesday, on the first day of its winter session, and finally for the day as the opposition disrupted proceedings and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over Vedanta varsity issue.

As soon as the question hour ended, Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh raised the issue and he was joined by other opposition members.

Demanding resignation of Patnaik over the indictment of the government by the Orissa High Court, the opposition members trooped towards the speaker’s podium and shouted slogans, making it impossible for Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat to conduct business. As the opposition remained adamant even after several adjournments, the house was adjourned for the day.

The Orissa High Court last week quashed the process of land acquisition for the proposed Vedanta University and directed the authorities to return the acquired lands to their owners.

The university, proposed to be set up by the Anil Agarwal Foundation, promoted by NRI industrialist and Britain-based Vedanta Resources chairman Anil Agarwal, was to come up on over 6,000 acres of land with a phased investment of Rs.150 billion ($3.5 billion) near the Konark-Puri marine drive, some 60 km from here.

After the high court’s direction to return the land acquired for the proposed university, the chief minister said his government will examine the decision and take appropriate action.

The winter session has 24 working days and is scheduled to continue till Dec 22.