Bhubaneswar: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today advised the newly elected MLAs of 17th Assembly to maintain discipline, work hard, uphold the dignity of the House and not make any hungama in the House for the interest of democracy.
The Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister inaugurated a two-day orientation programme for newly elected members to the Assembly here today.
The opposition BJD and the Congress, however, boycotted the programme alleging “breach of protocol.”
Addressing the members, Shri Rijiju urged the MLAs to maintain discipline, work hard and uphold the dignity of the House.
“Making ‘hungama’ (noise) in the House may give you a headline the next day, but it has no positive impact in the long-run,” he said.
“I am here not to teach the new MLAs, but to share my experience as a member of Parliament. I am happy to see that there is convergence of both young and experienced members. It is a good sign for democracy,” the Union Minister said.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Speaker Surama Padhy, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling and other members attended the session – ‘Gyan Sanskar Programme’.
Shri Majhi said the first duty of the elected legislators and MPs is to adhere to the provisions of the Constitution, and make full use of the powers given to them by working diligently to fulfil the expectations and hopes of the people.
Meanwhile, BJD deputy chief whip P K Deb said his party would organise a separate training programme for the new MLAs on August 25. He said the BJD considers it a breach of protocol when a Union Minister inaugurates a programme in presence of the Chief Minister.
Congress Chief Whip C S Raazen Ekka said his party was not opposed to any individual, but there is a breach of protocol when the CM is “an ordinary guest and a Union Minister inaugurates” any function.
Earlier, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik in a letter to the Speaker said her party decided to skip the orientation programme as the invitation of the Union Minister violated convention and relegated the Chief Minister to the second position.
As per the Convention, all functions in Assembly premises involve only those directly connected with Odisha, she said.
The BJD party has planned to organise an orientation programme at its party headquarters Sankha Bhawan on August 25 to train its newly elected party leaders about the parliamentary norms through its senior leaders. However, the Union Minister said the issue should not be politicised.
During the two-day orientation programme the senior leaders are scheduled to explain to the newly elected members among other things about the budgetary processes, Assembly questions and other procedures for raising matters of public importance on the floor of the house, legislative processes, and efficacy of committee system in a democracy.