‘Mental disorder’ remark against LoP expunged from Odisha Assembly records

Bowing to the intense pressure from the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Speaker on Saturday expunged the ‘mental disorder’ remark used by a BJD leader against the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jaynarayan Mishra, from the proceedings of the House. 

The Odisha Legislative Assembly plunged into pandemonium today as well after the BJP members created a ruckus demanding the withdrawal of suspension of two MLAs-Mohan Charan Majhi and Mukesh Mahaling- and striking out of the derogatory remark made by ruling party member Arun Sahoo against the LoP. 

With no escape in sight, the ruling party had to make a U-Turn and expunged the remark from the proceedings of the House immediately after an all-party meeting. 

Earlier in the day, BJP stalwart Mishra claimed that he is feeling unsafe both inside and outside the House.

“We are being denied the right to speak and not given any protection in the House. Today, there is a protest outside my residence in Sambalpur. Recently, BJD workers had ransacked property inside Circuit House thinking that I was present there. I would have been killed had I been there. Today I am unsafe both inside the Assembly and outside. I am not taking the Odisha government’s help and have returned security. If anything happens to me or my family, then Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik will be responsible,” Mishra had said. 

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Rajkishore Das retorted quickly and said the Leader of the Opposition is making such statements to hog the media limelight as everybody is safe here.