The Odisha Assembly for the third consecutive day witnessed ruckus over the ongoing Primary teachers’ stir with the Opposition Congress and BJP stalling the business of the house forcing Speaker B K Arukh to adjourn the house till 1600 hours.
The Opposition Congress and BJP members allowed the question hour to function on Wednesday which had been adjourned for the last two days due to protest by them inside
the well of the house on the teachers’ stir.
During the Zero hour, the Opposition raised the issue of the striking teachers and came down heavily on the government for being callous to the teachers strike and not responding to their demands.
Speaker B K Arukh adjourned the house for ten minutes and convened an all party meeting to resolve the matter which remained inconclusive.
As the Opposition remained adamant on their stand,the Speaker finding no other option, adjourned the house at 1228 hous till 1600 hours
Thousands of primary teachers have been on indefinite dharna at Mahatma Gandhi Marg before
the state assembly since Sunday demanding abolition of the contractual system, seventh pay commission and restoration of the old pension system.
The agitating teachers are sleeping under the open sky on the Mahatma Gandhi Marg notwithstanding the prevailing chilling weather in the state capital.
On Tuesday, the house was adjourned for the day after a series of adjournments as the Opposition Congress and BJP members stalled the business of the house over the teacher’s
stir.
However, on Wednesday after the question hour, Congress Legislature party leader Narashingha Mishra, BJP Chief whip Mohan Majhi and CPM MLA Laxman Munda raised the teachers ‘ stir which they said had entered the fourth day without any solution in sight.
The Opposition members trooped into the well of the house demanding the government to fulfill
the demands of the teachers who have blocked the Mahatma Gandhi Marg, the main busy road
of the capital city for the last four days and decided to continue the agitation till their demands are met by the government.
Sensing the trouble, the Speaker called an all party meeting and adjourned the house for ten minutes. He then adjourned the house at 1228 hours till 1600 hours as the all party meeting
failed to resolve the issue.
