Bhubaneswar: Odisha Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed an uproarious scene over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s controversial ‘Rashtrapatni’ remark on newly elected President Droupadi Murm.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 am, holding placards, BJP members trooped into the well of the house and sought slogans against Mr.Chowdhury.
The Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha requested the BJP members to go back to their seats and raise the issue during zero hour. However, the agitating BJP MLAs were in no mood to listen to the Speaker’s request. As a noisy situation prevailed in the house, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm.
Following the adjournment, the BJP members led by chief whip in the house Mohan Charan Majhi staged protest in the premises of the assembly. The BJP members demanded unconditional apology from Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Mr.Majhi condemned Choudhury for the offensive words he used against the President. “Congress national president Sonia Gandhi should admit the fault of her party leader and seek apology,” said Majhi. The Congress party should suspend or remove Chowdhury from the party as he tried to assassinate the character of the President, he demanded.
It is unfortunate to make such remarks on the President, who is at the top of Indian democracy, said Congress MLA CS Raazen Ekka.
“It is the duty and responsibility of all of us to protect the dignity of our President and country. He (Adhir Ranjan) should not have used such words against the President,” said Mr.Ekka.
Similarly, BJD member Rajkishore Das said it is a sad thing that a political leader like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has uttered such words against the President.
Making such derogatory remarks against the President is also an insult to the nation, which is totally unacceptable, he said.