Bhubaneswar, Nov. 20: Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy today landed in a controversy after allegedly using vulgar language against Radharani Panda, the BJP MLA from Brajanagar.

The incident took place on the opening day of the winter session, when Maharathy allegedly made some obscene remarks at Panda as the Opposition members were disrupting House proceedings demanding the resignation of chief minister Naveen Patnaik over the deposit collection scam.

The agitated BJP members staged a dharna in the Well, demanding an apology from Maharathy in the House. Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra also condemned the behaviour of the minister.

Later in the evening, members of the BJP Mahila Morcha staged a demonstration outside the minister’s residence and burnt his effigy.

The minister, on his part, denied the allegation, saying that he had all respect for Panda, but his remarks had been misunderstood. “She is like my sister,” he said.

The issue involving Panda cropped up when the Assembly, which had been adjourned following ruckus over the issue of money deposit collection scam, re-assembled at 12.15pm. As the uproar continued in the House, the Speaker adjourned it again. It was while the House was in a state of adjournment that Maharathy started criticising the Opposition for trying to denigrate the chief minister by linking him with the deposit collection scam.

He reportedly passed a few obscene remarks against Panda. Angry over his remarks, Panda rushed towards Maharathy and challenged him. However, senior leaders intervened and the situation was brought under control.

Later, Panda told reporters outside the Assembly that the agriculture minister had passed obscene remarks against her. “When I tried to raise how the people have been cheated by the deposit collection companies, the minister misbehaved with me. The ruling party members tried to stifle the voice of democracy. This government has no respect for womenfolk.”

However, Maharathy tried to downplay the incident. He said: “I had not passed any comments against her. I even advised her to go home as her daughter’s marriage is only a few days away. Perhaps she misunderstood me.”

Later, Panda confirmed that Maharathy had met her and apologised for his behaviour. BJP legislature party leader Basant Panda said: “The behaviour of a cabinet minister towards a lady MLA is unfortunate. He should apologise for this on the floor of the House.”

The House also witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue of deposit collection scam with Congress members staging a dharna in the Well with placards bearing anti-government slogans, forcing a series of adjournments during the day.

The Congress members were angry as the Speaker turned down the Opposition’s request to take up the issue, suspending the Question Hour.

On the other hand, Narasingha Mishra said he wanted to the raise the issue soon after the obituary references but was not allowed.

“This is an urgent matter of public importance and should get precedence since more than one crore people have been duped of thousands of crores of rupees Even one of the cabinet ministers has confessed guilt and admitted the association of the chief minister in the scam,” said Mishra.

Amid pandemonium, the government today placed the supplementary budget, making a provision of Rs 300 crore towards contribution to the corpus fund for protection of interest of depositors, as announced earlier.

Outside the Assembly, thousands of investors demanded criminal action against the companies and refund of their money.