BHUBANESWAR: The Congress on Tuesday demanded a special session of the Assembly to discuss the calamity afflicting the State. After drought in 16 districts due to deficient rainfall in July and August, 21 out of 30 districts were badly hit by two spells of high floods in all the major river systems. The Congress wants a special session of the Assembly as the matter is urgent affecting lives of lakhs of farmers, said Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.A Congress delegation, led by its president Niranjan Patnaik, also drew the attention of Governor M C Bhandare on Monday in this regard. The party submitted a memorandum to the Centre demanding adequate assistance for rehabilitation of people in the flood-affected areas. “A special session of the Assembly is generally convened during emergencies. As about 75 lakh people were hit by the calamity, a special session must be convened to discuss the problems,” Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said. Senior BJP leader B B Harichandan also supported the Congress’s proposal for convening a session of the Assembly after drought and floods. The ruling BJD, however, rejected the proposal with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty advising the Congress leaders to assist the Government in restoration work. “This is not the time to play politics, but to help the flood-affected people,” he said. Revenue Minister S N Patro asked the MLAs to visit their respective constituencies and monitor relief activities. The MLAs’ presence is required more in the flood-affected areas than here debating in the Assembly, Patro remarked. Senior BJD leader and former minister Damodar Rout said there is no harm in convening a special session during such situation.
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