TV
A protest spiralled into action as Odisha Congress legislators staged a demonstration following the suspension of 12 of their members from the state's legislative assembly. The scene at Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar turned vibrant and defiant as legislators, alongside party workers, orchestrated a sit-in protest today, signifying their discontent.
Tensions lingered throughout the night as Congress legislators hunkered down inside the assembly chamber, forcing security forces to escort them to Congress headquarters by bus.
However, the MLAs arrived at Master Canteen Square and continued their protest, staying overnight. Their protest is a response to what they deem unjust treatment following their removal from the assembly session.
Night-long Sit-in Followed Forced Eviction:
The legislators alleged that access to toilets was deliberately denied while they were inside the Assembly. They alleged that they were also denied drinking water.
On the other hand, senior leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, Narasingha Mishra, Niranjan Patnaik, and Jayadev Jena sought to meet with their suspended colleagues but were allegedly detained by police, leading to a confrontation between the Congress workers and the law enforcement units.
Allegations By Congress:
Speaking on the suspension of MLAs, Bhakta Charan Das, President of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee said, “Suspending MLAs is a serious offense by the government and the Assembly. They were only raising their voices against atrocities on women.”
Likewise, Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous took to social media and shared, “Today, 12 out of 14 Congress MLAs, including me, were suspended from the Odisha Assembly. And why? Because we dared to stand up against rising atrocities on women and demand safety and justice.”
She further added, “Instead of addressing the real issues, the BJP government has chosen to suppress our voices, proving once again that they would rather silence those who speak for women than take action to protect them. But let this be clear—no suspension, no intimidation will stop us. We will continue our fight, inside and outside the Assembly, until every woman in Odisha feels safe and justice is served.”
Similarly, Niranjan Patnaik shared, “The BJP government in Odisha has once again shown its true colours. Instead of addressing the rising atrocities against women, they have chosen to silence the voices fighting for justice. The BJP’s desperate attempt to crush dissent won’t break our spirit. We will continue to fight—inside and outside the Assembly—until every woman in Odisha feels safe.”
The ruling BJP is yet to respond to the allegations.
