Bhubaneswar: The first half of the State Legislative Assembly completely washed away as the Opposition BJD and Congress Members created a ruckus in the House over different issues.
As soon as the House assembled at 10.30 AM for Question Hour, Members from both Opposition parties rushed to the ‘Well Of The House’ raising slogans against the BJP Government.
The BJD Members raised slogans opposing the restructuring of Mission Shakti, while the Congress members protested against the rising cases of atrocities against women in the State.
As a noisy scene prevailed inside the House, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the proceedings till 4 PM.
Later, holding placards, the BJD MLAs staged a dharna in front of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside the premises of the Assembly.
Speaking to media persons, senior BJD Lawmaker Arun Kumar Sahoo said the Mission Shakti members have been staging protests before the assembly for the past few days. However, the government became mute spectators, he said.
“The Government is neither fulfilling their demands nor inviting them for a discussion. The BJP Government wants to restructure the Mission Shakti ECs to include its party members in the committees,” Shri Sahoo alleged.
BJD Lawmaker, Ranendra Pratap Swain accused the BJP Government of attempting to saffronize Mission Shakti and restructuring it against the wishes of lakhs of women who have been serving the program for the last two decades.
Shri Swain asserted that the BJD would continue its fight until the Mission Shakti women receive justice and criticized the State Government for showing no sympathy toward the agitating members, who have been spending sleepless nights on the streets in support of their demands.
He further stated that there was no justification for restructuring Mission Shakti and alleged that the BJP Government was deliberately doing so for political gain.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ram Chandra Kadam said the women and children are not safe in the State. More than 36,000 women and over 8,000 children went missing in the State. But, the State government is in deep sleep, he alleged.
On the other hand, BJP leader Amar Nayak said the opposition parties are making non-issue an issue and disrupted the House. A lot of issues are there which can be discussed. The ruling party is ready for any constructive discussion in the interest of the people of the State, he said.