Bhubaneswar: The State Assembly witnessed several adjournments the entire day as Opposition BJD members stalled proceedings over a controversial remark made by BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, while Congress members protested against rising atrocities against women in the State.
From the Question Hour till evening, both BJD and Congress members, carrying placards in their hands, trooped into the well of the House, raised slogans and disrupted the proceedings.
The chaos inside the House forced Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn proceedings several times including the last time till tomorrow morning.
The House convened at 10:30 AM today to take up the day’s business, beginning with paying homage to former Minister and BJD leader Ananta Charan Das, who passed away on Sunday.
Trouble began immediately after the House observed a one-minute silence in memory of the departed leader and moved on to the Question Hour.
As a result, the House was unable to transact business for the Question Hour, Zero Hour, the adjournment motion and budget discussion today.
Agitated BJD and Congress members, holding placards, stormed into the well of the House, raising slogans and disrupting proceedings. Some members even attempted to climb onto the Speaker’s podium and tried to snatch away the microphone, but security staff intervened.
The BJD strongly opposed a controversial statement made by BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra at an official function in Sambalpur on Saturday, accusing him of trying to divide Odisha by raising the Koshal state issue.
They demanded a public apology from Shri Mishra, who was absent from the House, and a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi regarding the remarks made by his party MLA. Congress MLAs, also carrying placards, raised slogans against the government over rising crimes against women in the state.
Following the adjournment, BJD and Congress members marched in a procession from the well of the House to the Assembly premises, staging a dharna in support of their demands.
In the evening, senior Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati broke down the mike of Speaker Smt.Padhy and threw some papers and banner towards her. The MLAs later staged dharana before the Mahamta Gandhi statue of Assembly complex.
The Congress also held protest demonstrations outside District Collector offices across Odisha, condemning the increasing atrocities against women.
Addressing an official function in Sambalpur on March 8, Jaynarayan Mishra, also a former Minister, courted controversy with his remark that people of the western region, earlier known as Koshala, were neglected as the coastal districts (Utkal area) enjoyed benefits.
Shri Mishra had said that Odisha was formed with the merger of Utkal, Kalinga and Koshala regions in 1936. He also said it was a “historical mistake” to get Koshala merged with Odisha.
Eight-time MLA and former BJD Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain claimed, “Mishra’s statement was aimed to divide Odisha. The BJP came to power with the slogan of ‘Odia Asmita’ (pride). Is this ‘Odia Asmita’?
Shri Swain demanded the Chief Minister to make a statement in the House on this issue.
If it is Shri Mishra’s personal statement, the party or government should take action against him, said senior BJD MLA Arun Sahoo.
Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said the crime against women has risen severely in the state as the government is not taking any major action to curb it.
The common people can feel the adverse impact of the prevailing law and order situation in Odisha, she said.
Treasury Bench Member Babu Singh said, “The opposition has been disrupting the Question Hour, Zero Hour and discussion under adjournment motion. We are ready to discuss the alleged disrespect to Biju Babu in the House. But, the opposition has stalled the proceedings by agitation.”
Asked whether he and the BJP support Shri Mishra’s controversial statement, Shri Singh said it could be his personal opinion.
“The BJP does not support any statement or remark which is against the interest of Odisha,” he said, adding that the party’s state unit President or Chief Minister may speak more on Shri Mishra’s statement