Odisha MLA suspended for watching porn in house

Bhubaneswar: Odisha assembly Speaker Niranjan Pujari on Tuesday suspended Congress legislator Nabakishore Das for seven days for allegedly watching obscene video clips inside the house.

Das was accused of watching porn on his mobile phone while sitting in the assembly in session on Monday.

The speaker took the decision following a motion moved by ruling Biju Janata Dal's chief whip Ananta Das, which was passed by voice vote. The speaker then sent the matter to the ethics committee for further probe.

However, the opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, walked out of the assembly, protesting the speaker's decision. They contended that Speaker Pujari did not take into account Das's response to the allegation before deciding to suspend him.

Leader of OLpposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP legislator K.V. Singhdeo demanded that the decision be reconsidered and the ethics committee be asked to investigate the matter.

Das said the decision to suspend him was undemocratic because his response was not heard.

"The allegations against me are not true. I have not been given a chance to make my stand," said Das.

Demanding a thorough probe into the matter, he said, "While trying to open my own social media page, I accidentally touched YouTube. I scrolled down unwittingly when the TV camera shot me."

Das said he did nothing to violate the sanctity and decorum of the legislature.