Bhubaneswar: The State Legislative Assembly witnessed several adjournments and chaos today as Opposition Congress and BJD members created ruckus in the House over different issues during the first half and post-lunch session.
The Congress MLAs continued to stall the Question Hour, protesting against the rising atrocities on women and demanding better safety measures for women in the State.
The Opposition Congress members resorted to a novel protest by blowing whistles inside the well of the House to register their dissent. They are demanding the formation of a House Committee to probe the increasing crimes against women in the State.
The trouble began when the House commenced the Question Hour after adopting an obituary motion on the demise of former MLA from Sonepur, Debraj Seth. The House also observed a one-minute silence in memory of the departed soul.
As soon as Speaker Surama Padhy asked Minister Mukesh Mahaling to respond to a question on behalf of the Chief Minister, the Congress members stormed into the well of the House, shouted slogans, and began blowing whistles near the Speaker’s podium, attempting to disrupt the proceedings.
The Speaker urged the Congress members to return to their seats and cooperate with the business of the House. She even appealed to them to refrain from blowing whistles inside the well.
However, the Congress members remained adamant and continued shouting slogans while blowing whistles.
Unable to restore order, the Speaker adjourned the House at 10:46 AM until 12 PM. When the House reconvened at 12 PM, Congress members once again stormed into the well and blew whistles before staging a noisy walkout.
In their absence, the House proceeded with the adjournment motion debate, which was moved by Opposition BJD members.
In the afternoon, the BJD MLAs staged a protest in the House raising objections to restrictions imposed on electronic media especially TV camerapersons to record video during the Question Hour.
Senior BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya has raised the issue and asked why the Media persons are not allowed to record the video during the question hour. The journalists should be given free hands and an emergency like situation should not be created, he said.
After his speech, the BJD members created a ruckus in the well of the House raising slogans against the government. Following which, the House was adjourned twice. Later, the Speaker allowed to start demand for grant discussion on Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department.