The Odisha Assembly was adjourned twice until 1600 hours on Tuesday by Speaker Surama Padhy without transacting any business as members of the Opposition Congress and BJD created a ruckus in the well of the House over their separate demands.
The disruption began when the House reconvened on Tuesday after a 19-day break to resume business. The session started with an obituary motion to pay tribute to the late former Jashipur MLA Sundar Mohan Majhi, who passed away on August 13.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Maji moved the obituary motion, which was supported by BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallick on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Congress Legislature Party leader Ram Chandra Kadam, CPM leader Laxman Munda, and Speaker Surama Padhy. The House expressed its condolences to the bereaved family and observed a minute of silence to honor the departed soul.
As the Speaker proceeded with the Question Hour and asked Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Nayak to respond, Opposition Congress members rushed into the well of the House, shouting slogans demanding student elections in educational institutions, which have been suspended for the past six years during the previous BJD government’s tenure.
Simultaneously, BJD members were seen standing and raising slogans against the government over an incident involving the Odisha Governor’s son allegedly assaulting a government official.
BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallick demanded to know what action the government had taken against the Governor’s son and also called for the expungement of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling’s remark about arresting Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik from the House proceedings.
She further sought clarity on the privilege notice moved against Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for announcing reservations for Agniveers from Odisha in the state’s uniformed services while the Assembly was in session.
With both sides creating a chaotic situation, the Speaker, finding no other alternative, adjourned the House at 10:41 AM for an hour until 11:41 AM.
There was no change in the situation when the house reassembled at 1141 hours after the adjournment. The Congress members again trooped into the well of the house and reiterated their demand for students’ election in the state.
State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling was seen reading the cabinet decisions in the house, which were not audible in the din.
The Speaker then again adjourned the house till 1600 hours without transacting any business, and in the process, the question hour business, zero hour, and adjournment motion could not be taken up and washed out.
