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New Delhi: BJD Parliamentarians created an uproar in the Lok Sabha today after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not accept an adjournment motion for discussion on a tribunal formation to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute.
The Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon when BJD MPs stood beside their seat and shouted slogans.
Following the adjournment when BJD parliamentary party leader Bhartruhari Mahatab raised the Mahanadi issue once again, it also drew support from Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
BJD MP and Parliamentary Party spokesperson Kalikesh Singhdeo, said, "Today we had moved an adjournment motion for the third time. However, the Lok Sabha Speaker did not accept the motion following which we stood beside our seat and lodged a protest."
Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya said, "We raised the Mahanadi water dispute issue during zero hour and demanded cancellation of other proceedings. Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said an adjournment is not possible, but assured us that he would give us a chance for discussion some time without telling when."
BJD's Rajya Sabha members have already moved a calling attention and a short duration notice for discussion on the Mahanadi water row in the Upper House.
Earlier in the day, BJD MPs staged a demonstration holding placards in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the premises of Parliament.
Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani said, "To protect the interest of some industrialists, a conspiracy has been planned and the Centre is a part of it. We will fight against the step-motherly attitude of the Centre against Odisha."
Echoing similar views, Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda said, "We will raise our voice in every possible way, even if a discussion is not allowed in Parliament."
Refuting the allegations, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said, "When the Centre has already said it would bring a new law under which a tribunal will be formed to resolve issues on different water bodies in a limited period, the BJD MPs should not play politics over the Mahanadi river water."
Despite holding the charge of Water Resources Minister, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has failed to protect the water bodies of the State, he alleged.
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