Bhubaneswar: Logjam continued to prevail in the State Legislative Assembly for the seventh consecutive day of winter session on Wednesday as both the opposition BJP and Congress members created ruckus in the House throughout the day.
Though the Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro has called all party meetings twice, it failed to bring normalcy to the House. The House was adjourned several times and could not transact any business.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 am, opposition BJP and Congress members rushed to the well holding placards and banners. They sought slogans reiterating their demand for the removal of the Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Dibya Shankar Mishra over Mamita Meher murder case.
The BJP members continued to beat gongs and bells as a mark of protest. The Congress MLAs showed placards and shouted slogans. The House witnessed a political high drama after both the BJD and the BJP Members tried to outwit each other in a poster war.
While the BJP members showed the photographs of Gobind Sahu, the prime accused in the Mamita Meher murder case with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Treasury Bench members standing on their seats showed photographs of Mohan Lal Sharma, advocate of Gobind Sahu with senior BJP leaders like Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan, former Odisha BJP President Basant panda, senior BJP leader KV Singh Deo.
As the house plunged into a chaotic situation, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am. After the House reassembled, the opposition members again continued their agitation.
Finding no other alternative the Speaker again adjourned the House at 11.33 am and called an all party meeting. The proceedings were subsequently adjourned twice till 4 pm as the all party meeting failed to break the ice.
There was no change in the situation in the afternoon session too. The opposition members continued their protest forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House again.
The Speaker again convened an all-party meeting in the post-lunch session too but as it was also failed to resolve the issue. Later, he adjourned the House till tomorrow.
The House could not take up the question hour in the pre-lunch session and the demands for grants for the first supplementary grants relating to the Home department could not be taken up in the post-lunch session.
The Treasury Bench members sat on a dharna in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi alleging double standard practiced by BJP in Mamita Meher murder case.
BJD leader Pratap Keasri Deb alleged that Mohanlal Sharma, the advocate fighting for Gobind Sahu, the prime accused, is an active member of the BJP.
Alleging BJP is maintaining ‘double standard’ on the murder case, Mr.Deb said, the BJP is making a hue and cry over the murder case inside and outside the House and demanding the resignation of Mr.Mishra. On the other hand, it engaged Mr.Sharma to get Gobind Sahu free, alleged Mr.Deb.
Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi denied the allegation made by the BJD. He said Mr.Sharma is not a member of BJP, and the BJD is making the false allegation.