Monsoon Session: Pandemonium in Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Aug 19: The Odisha assembly on Wednesday witnessed pandemonium and disruptions as both the opposition and ruling party members created ruckus shouting slogans and counter-slogans.

Speaker Niranjan Pujari first adjourned the house till 12.30 p.m. and later till 3 p.m. As the house did not return to normalcy even after the two adjournments, the speaker extended the adjournment till 3.30 p.m. and later called an all-party meeting to resolve the deadlock.

As soon as the House assembled, leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra sought a discussion on the issue relating to former DGP Prakash Mishra and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Naveenn Patnaik for falsely implicating the officer on financial irregularities, which was quashed both by the high court and the Supreme Court.

However, the speaker disallowed the opposition leader from discussing the issue during Question Hour, following which Congress MLAs rushed to the speaker’s podium carrying anti-state government banners.

In order to counter the opposition, the treasury bench members also rushed towards the podium protesting the Centre’s apathy towards Odisha.

Amid the uproar, the speaker adjourned the house till 3 p.m. and later till 3.30 p.m.

Biju Janata Dal members staged a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the assembly premises and protested the central government’s neglect of the state.

Earlier in the day, the speaker admitted an adjournment motion given notice by BJP members on the Nabakalebara mismanagement and directed Law Minister Arun Sahu to reply.

Congress member Naba Das told media persons that the ruling party members deliberately disrupted the house to avoid discussion on the Prakash Mishra issue.

On the other hand, the ruling party said the Narendra Modi government had ignored Odisha while announcing a Rs.1.25 lakh crore package for Bihar.  (IANS)