Bhubaneswar: The first half of second day of ongoing budget session of Odisha Legislative Assembly was washed away as Opposition BJD and Congress members created a ruckus in the House over farmers’ issues and law & order problem.
The Assembly proceedings were first adjourned till 12 pm and then till 4 pm as a noisy scenario prevailed in the House.
As soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 am, both BJD and Congress members rushed to the well of the House, raised slogans against the BJP government and tried to disrupt the proceedings of the Assembly.
While Congress members raised concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, BJD members highlighted the plight of farmers, especially issues related to paddy procurement and the Mandi system
Despite repeated appeals by the Speaker Surama Padhy, the Opposition MLAs continue to stage protests in the well. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 12 pm. However, the situation remained the same when the House reassembled at 12 pm. Then, the Speaker adjourned the House till 4 pm.
Speaking to media persons outside the Assembly, BJD’s Deputy Leader in the Assembly, Prasanna Acharya alleged that farmers are in distress in ‘mandis’ (marketplace) set up by the State government.
“In one hand the government is giving an input subsidy of Rs 800 per quintal of paddy, while on the other hand, it cuts their paddy in the name of poor quality (katni chatni),” Shri Acharya said. The paddy procurement issue needs to be discussed in detail, he said.
Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said the BJD members staged an agitation in the House as the Speaker rejected the party’s notice for a discussion on farmers’ issues.