Bhubaneswar: Demanding an increase in minimum support price (MSP) for paddy and opposing the recent hike power tariff, Opposition members today created pandemonium in the State Assembly leading to adjournments thrice in the pre-lunch session today.
As soon as the House assembled to begin today's business, Congress and BJP legislators stormed to the well and shouted slogans against the State government demanding an unanimous resolution recommending the Centre to increase the paddy MSP and opposing the decision of the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission on hike in power tariff. Unable to run the State Assembly, Speaker Niranjan Pujari adjourned the proceedings during the Question Hour till 11.30 am.
When the House reassembled after the first adjournment, the scene was no different which was why the Speaker adjourned the House proceedings for the second time till 12.50 pm.
The Congress and BJP members continued to create ruckus in the State Assembly over the issues barely half a minute after the House reassembled. The Speaker again adjourned the proceedings till 3 pm amid the Opposition din.
Also read: House adjourned as Opp creates ruckus demanding hike in paddy MSP
Notably, important issues including the demand for grants for the Rural Development department were scheduled to be discussed in the Assembly today.
Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said, "Though the State government had agreed to bring a resolution in the House over the paddy MSP during the all-party meeting, which was held earlier to find a solution to the House logjam, it is unfortunate seeing the way the demand for grants for the Panchayat Raj department was passed by the Assembly on Wednesday."
Bahinipati further stated, "Nothing has been told to us on the date or timings when the resolution on paddy MSP will be brought in the House. The process pertaining to the resolution seems to be a drama only."
Talking about his party's viewpoint, BJP leader Pradeep Purohit said, "As people of the State will come to know about the government's failure if the issue is debated in the House, the ruling party has been trying in every possible way to choke the voice raising against it," adding why the date has not been fixed to pass the resolution.
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In his reaction, BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said, "Not only the Opposition members, the ruling party also wants the farmers of the State to get a better paddy MSP. Though the Prime Minister has already declared on this, nothing has been done yet. Therefore, there is a delay on the Centre's part to increase the paddy MSP."
Satpathy added, "Cancellation of the Question Hour due to the adjournments is an unfortunate thing. Besides, the repeated adjournments lessen the importance of House among people of the State."