Bhubaneswar: Ruling BJD-BJP MLAs today staged a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Orissa assembly premises demanding an "unconditional apology" from union minister Ajay Maken for allegedly asking Congress legislators to continue to stall proceedings of the House.

As assembly proceedings remained stalled for the ninth day today amidst pandemonium by opposition Congress on the issue of supply of water to industries from Hirakud Reservoir, the MLAs gathered near the Gandhi statue.

Accusing Congress MLAs of working at the instruction of Maken, who is also party in-charge for Orissa, instead of initiating debate on Hirakud, the agitating BJD-BJP legislators described his action as "highly unconstitutional".

They also displayed copy of Maken's letter to the state Congress leadership asking party MLAs to continue to stall proceedings of the house till the party's extended executive committee meeting on December 2.

BJD member Pradeep Maharathy wanted to know who was actually the leader of the opposition in Orissa assembly. "Is it J B Patnaik or Maken?", he asked.

The MLAs also shouted slogans against Congress leadership accusing it of interferring with assembly business. They further raised the issue of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's refusal to meet chief ministers of five mineral bearing states including Orissa. "This shows the step-motherly attitude of the Centre," alleged BJD-BJP members.

The members ended their dharna after parliamentary affairs minister Raghunath Mohanty and government chief whip Kishore Mohanty intervened.

Source : PTI