Bhubaneswar: Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on 25 March suspended 12 Congress MLAs for seven working-days on charges of repeatedly creating indiscipline and unruly scene in the House.
Government Chief Whip Saroj Pradhan moved a motion in this regard in the State Assembly and later Speaker Shrimati Padhy suspended the 12 Congress Lawmakers.
Suspended Congress Lawmakers are Rama Chandra Kadam, Satyajit Gamang, Rajan Ekka, Pabitra Saunta, Sofia Firdus, Ashok Das, Dasarathi Gamang, Kadraka Apalaswami, Prafulla Pradhan, Mangu Khila, Nilamadhab Hikaka and Sagar Das.
Congress MLAs, Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena have been spared from suspension.
On March 11, the Speaker had suspended Shri Bahinipati for seven days for creating indiscipline in the House by climbing onto her podium.
The Congress members were beating gongs and cymbals inside the House in protest against rising crime against women in Odisha. They have been demanding formation of a House Committee to protest the women and girl in the State.
Condemning the decision of the Speaker, State Congress President Bhakta Charan Das said, “Beating gongs is not against law or rules. People beat gong in temples to offer their prayer and wish before the Gods. The Speaker has tried to suppress the voice of the Opposition.”
On the other hand, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister has used unparliamentary words in the Assembly, but no action has been taken against him.
Senior BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra said a House Committee cannot be formed in a general subject for across Odisha. So, the action against the Congress MLAs was needed for smooth function of the House, he said.