Pandemonium broke out inside the Odisha Assembly as Opposition and treasury bench members engaged in a scuffle inside the well of the House, forcing Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the session at 11:03 AM until 12:10 PM.
The trouble began right from the Question Hour, similar to the previous three days, when the House convened at 10:30 AM on Tuesday.
BJD and Congress members, holding posters and placards, stormed into the well of the House, raised slogans, and attempted to climb the podium to snatch away the Speaker’s microphone. Some Opposition members even stood on the reporters’ table and removed their headphones.
Despite the commotion, the Speaker proceeded with the Question Hour and asked Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia to respond.
However, the House soon plunged into complete chaos when Opposition members rushed toward Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra to obstruct him from replying to another question.
This prompted treasury bench members to rush to the minister’s defense, preventing Opposition members from disrupting proceedings. A scuffle ensued inside the well, with BJP members forcibly snatching away and tearing the Opposition’s posters and placards.
BJP member Jayanarayan Mishra and Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati were seen confronting each other, while BJP’s Ashok Mohanty had a scuffle with Congress member Rajan Ekka.
Treasury bench members tried to push Opposition members back to their seats, leading to further unruly scenes and a complete breakdown of order.
Sensing that the situation was spiraling out of control, the Speaker adjourned the House at 11:03 AM until 12:10 PM.
Following the adjournment, agitated Congress members marched to the Gandhi statue inside the Assembly premises and staged a dharna, protesting the rising atrocities against women in the state.
The BJD members, who were protesting BJP member Jayanarayan Mishra’s remarks—which they alleged were aimed at dividing the state—carried lanterns inside the Assembly corridors in search of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who was absent from the House.
BJD members have been demanding a statement from the Chief Minister regarding his party MLA Jayanarayan Mishra’s remarks, along with a public apology from Mishra for his alleged divisive statements.
Meanwhile, BJP members Ashok Mohanty and Amarendra Das condemned the unruly behavior of the Opposition and demanded strict action against them for insulting the Speaker by throwing posters and placards at her and disrupting ministerial proceedings.
The BJP convened a meeting of party legislators in Room No. 54 of the Assembly to discuss the behavior of the Opposition BJD and Congress members.
Treasury bench members strongly criticized the Opposition for what they described as undemocratic and disruptive behavior inside the House, demanding action against those attempting to stall legislative proceedings.
The BJP demanded a public apology from the BJD and Congress for their unruly behavior inside the well of the house.
Since March 7, the Odisha Assembly has been witnessing continuous disruptions by Opposition BJD members and the Congress members.
Initially, the BJD protested the government’s decision to shift Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5, Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, to April 24. However, their focus later shifted to condemning the divisive remarks made by BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra.
On the other hand, Congress members have been continuously protesting and disrupting House proceedings over the increasing atrocities against women in the state.
Meanwhile , the Opposition BJD also convened a meeting at the chamber of the leader of Opposition to discuss the issue and chalk out their next strategy in the Assembly over their demand.
