Thursday, March 24 2005 20:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: At loggerheads for quite sometime, the Opposition in the Orissa Assembly and Speaker Maheswar Mohanty appeared to be on the collision course with the former deciding to move a resolution demanding Mohanty's removal from office.

Peeved over what they alleged as 'abusive behaviour' by the Speaker, the Opposition members belonging to five parties, met in the Assembly complex and decided to move the resolution against Mohanty.

The Opposition members kept away from the house for the second consecutive day in protest against the Speaker's remarks while the ruling BJD-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) members debated the 'unruly behaviour' of Opposition members yesterday and adopted a motion suspending Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati for seven days.

Briefing newsmen, the leader of Opposition J B Patnaik said it was the unanimous decision of the united Opposition to move the resolution against the Speaker as he was 'not able to control the house. He used objectionable and indecent words against Opposition members which has happened repeatedly.''

On the other hand, the speaker appeared unfazed.

''It's the leader of Opposition who did not control his members. I am also a human being and might have snapped at times. But I have not committed any offence,'' Mohanty said.

Reacting to the Opposition decision to move the resolution for his removal, the Speaker said they have the democratic right to do so.

''If I have committed any mistake, let it be discussed (in the house),'' he said.