Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD and Congress continued to stall the State Assembly for another day today over separate issues.
While the Congress MLAs continued their protest demanding formation of a House Committee to address the rising crime against women, the BJD MLAs demanded proportionate reservations for SC, ST, and OBC candidates in engineering and medical education, along with 27 percent reservation for OBCs in both jobs and education.
The Opposition members created ruckus in the well of the House soon after paying tribute to former MLA Devendra Sharma. The Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Monday, leading to multiple adjournments until 4 PM.
The Congress members staged their unique protest inside the well, beating cymbals and playing trumpets, reiterating their demand for a House Committee to probe the rising crimes against women in the State.
On the other hand, BJD members, also carrying placards, demanded proportionate reservations for SC, ST, and OBC candidates in engineering and medical education, along with 27 percent reservation for OBCs in both jobs and education.
As Speaker Surama Padhy invited Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaking to respond to a question, Congress and BJD members holding placards trooped into the well of the House.
The Speaker urged the Opposition to return to their seats and cooperate with the proceedings, but they remained adamant and continued their protest near the podium. Unable to restore order, the Speaker adjourned the House at 10:45 AM until 12:09 PM.
As soon as the House was adjourned, Congress and BJD members marched around the Assembly premises, carrying placards, and staged a dharna near the Gandhi statue.
The House was subsequently adjourned twice by Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi—first from 12:09 PM to 12:19 PM and again from 12:19 PM to 12:29 PM.
When the House reconvened at 12:29 PM, the situation remained unchanged as the Opposition continued its protest. Finding no other option, the Deputy Speaker convened an all-party meeting in his chamber to resolve the deadlock and adjourned the House until 1.
The adjournment was extended for another 15 minutes until 1:15 PM and finally until 4:00 PM by Sanatan Bijuli, who replaced the Deputy Speaker in the chair, as the all-party meeting remained inconclusive.
In the afternoon at 4 PM, the Congress MLAs continued their protest while BJD Lawmakers cooperated with the proceedings. Later, the Congress MLAs staged a noisy walkout from the House.
Speaking to media persons, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Rama Chandra Kadam said, “We will continue to protest in Assembly and outside till the government forms a House Committee to inquire into the crimes against women across the State. There have been 54 gangrape incidents in the last eight months and 1,600 women atrocity cases registered in different police stations. Fifty per cent of the state’s population is not safe in Odisha.”
Senior BJD MLA Pramila Mallik said that they are forced to stage agitation in the well of the House as the state government denied reservation to the ST, SC and OBC students.
Another senior BJD Lawmaker Ranendra Pratap Swain said that ST, SC and OBC constitute more than 95 per cent of the State’s population. But, they are denied proportionate reservation in education and jobs, he said.
On the other hand, BJP MLA Purna Chandra Sethi alleged that the Opposition BJD and Congress disrupted the proceedings and created ruckus without holding discussion on issues. “It is unfortunate that the precious time of Assembly is wasted due to ruckus,” Sethi said.
The government is ready to discuss any issue in the interest of the state and its people. But, the opposition are stalling the House, Sethi said.