Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: Opposition Congress on Monday slammed the ruling BJD after Speaker of State Assembly turned down its notice for a debate on the fertiliser crisis and other farmer related issues.

The ruling party was fearing a debate on fertiliser issue,Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress said.

As the farmers in the state are facing a critical situation, the matter should be debated in the House, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said. The issue was not taken up because the state government was fearing a backlash, he said.

BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo said it was the Speaker`s prerogative to take a decision on whether a matter would be debated in the House.

"If this (farmers issue) is not possible today, the Speaker may allow it tomorrow," Singhdeo said outside the Assembly.

Defending the Speaker, ruling BJD members said there was no provision in the rules to take up adjournment motion every day. "Since there are 18 bills pending for passage in the Assembly, the Speaker disallowed the adjournment motion today," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das said.

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