Ruling BJP disrupts Orissa assembly over Hindu leader's killing

Bhubaneswar, Nov 26 (IANS) The Orissa assembly witnessed several disruptions before being adjourned Wednesday after members of the Bharatiya Janata Party - a key partner in the coalition government - protested demanding arrest of killers of a Hindu leader.

On the first day of the winter session, Speaker Kishore Mohanty briefly suspended the house twice before adjourning it for the day after BJP members repetitively stalled the proceedings.

They were demanding immediate arrest of the people who killed Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides in the district of Kandhamal Aug 23 this year.

The killings triggered a wave of communal violence in the state leaving at least 38 people killed and forcing thousands of Christians to flee homes.

Saraswati's killing was owned by leftist guerrillas but Hindu groups are blaming Christians for the crime.

The BJP members started protesting soon after the question hour began in the morning demanding discussion on the Kandhamal issue and didn't allow the speaker to conduct business.

Despite continuous pleading by the speaker that he would allow a discussion, the protesting members rushed to the well raising slogans and stalling the proceedings.

Ruling legislators alleged that after three months of the veteran VHP leader's murder the killers and mastermind of the crime were moving scot-free.