Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed heavy disruption today as opposition members from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress party staged a combined protest over the distress sale of paddy, leading to multiple adjournments. The agitation, which centered on the grievances of farmers, effectively stalled both Question Hour and Zero Hour proceedings as the House struggled to maintain order amid the slogan-shouting.
As soon as the session commenced, BJD members marched into the well of the House carrying green flex banners and placards highlighting the plight of farmers unable to sell their produce at fair prices. In a symbolic act of protest, MLA Romancha Ranjan Biswal entered the chamber wearing a traditional towel on his head and carrying a bundle of paddy, which he subsequently placed on the Secretary’s table. Senior BJD leaders Arun Kumar Sahoo and Ranendra Pratap Swain further escalated the demonstration by holding up handfuls of paddy to draw the attention of the Speaker.
Simultaneously, Congress members joined the fray with white placards featuring slogans written in red, also demanding immediate government intervention regarding paddy procurement issues. Speaker Smt.Surama Padhy repeatedly urged the protesting members to return to their seats to allow the legislative business to proceed, but the appeals went unheeded.
Amidst the din, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo attempted to provide a response on behalf of the government. However, his remarks were largely drowned out by the noise. Despite the chaos, member Sudhir Ranjan Pattjoshi managed to pose a supplementary question, though the environment remained unsuitable for a constructive debate. This led the Speaker to adjourn the House from 10:33 AM until 11:30 AM.
When the House reassembled, the scenes remained unchanged. BJD and Congress members resumed their protests in the well with banners and posters. During the Zero Hour, BJP members Manoranjan Dyan Samantara and Ashrit Pattanayak attempted to raise local constituency issues, but their voices were lost in the surrounding uproar. Finding it impossible to conduct further business, Speaker Smt. Surama Padhy initially adjourned the House until 4:00 PM. As the stalemate persisted through the afternoon session, the House was ultimately adjourned until 10:30 AM tomorrow.