Bhubaneswar: The issue involving Kendrapara SP Niti Sekhar misbehaving and assaulting a working journalist in Kendrapara during the visit of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to Patkura on Wednesday rocked the Odisha Assembly on Thursday when the opposition BJP and Congress members demanded that the SP either be transferred or suspended.
Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Nayak first raised the issue saying that the Kendrapara SP’s behaviour is an insult to the fourth pillar of the democracy and hence he should be transferred or suspended forthwith.
He also demanded a ruling from the Speaker in this connection. As the Speaker refrained from passing any ruling, the BJP MLAs staged protest at the Well of House.
The Congress members too joined the main opposition force and also condemned the act demanded immediate action against the IPS officer.
Despite Speaker repeated requests, the agitating MLAs did not relent. The Speaker then adjourned the House for 15 minutes at 11.49 pm for the first time and later till 3 pm in five phases.
Notably, the alleged manhandling of a journalist of a private TV channel by the SP took place at the helipad in Barimula village when the journalist tried to reach near the chopper of the Chief Minister who was on campaign trail in Patkura Assembly election. This was captured in a video which went viral on social media on the day.
It can be seen in the media that Sekhar shoved the scribe and even raised his right hand at him to give him a slap.
Meanwhile, the SP apologised for his act saying it was unintentional.
