Bhubaneswar: Stalemate continues in Odisha Assembly for fifth straight day due to heavy pandemonium created by both Opposition and treasury bench members.
Soon after the House assembled for the day, Opposition BJP and ruling BJD members stormed into the well and created heavy noise. BJP members alleged mandi mismanagement while BJD MLAs shouted, demanding apology from BJP legislator Subash Panigrahi who attempted suicide in the Assembly thereby lowering the dignity of the House.
Speaker SN Patro, who was unable to transact any business, adjourned the House till 12 noon amid ruckus.
Meanwhile, a delegation of BJD MLAs met the Governor urging him to issue direction to Panigrahi for an apology.
"The BJD want that Panigrahi should apologise before the people of Odisha to end the deadlock. Attempts are being made to glorify the issue" senior BJD MLA Debi Mishra said.
On the other hand, BJP has reiterated its stand that no member from the party would apologise under any circumstances until sacks of paddy of the farmers are lifted from mandis across the State.
"Why should Subash Panigrahi apologise? The minister who presented false data in the Assembly should beg apology first. Why he (Minister) told lie in the House? Why shouldn’t the Speaker suggest the Minister to apologise?, asked Bishnu Sethy, deputy leader of the Opposition.
The Congress, however, blamed both the parties for the din in the House.
"Both BJD and BJP are not allowing the House to function. We demand early procurement of paddy piled up at various mandis. The government should take a decision in this regard. I request Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to intervene in the matter to ensure smooth functioning of the Assembly," Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati said.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohnaty)