Odisha Assembly adjourned twice amid noisy protests by opposition

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly Monday witnessed pandemonium and repeated adjournments due to noisy protests by opposition BJP and Congress MLAs, who were demanding a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the alleged deterioration of law and order in the state.

The issue was raised by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pradipta Kumar Naik of the BJP as soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour.

He demanded a discussion on the law and order, by suspending the Question Hour.

Naik said, the sensational triple murder in broad daylight near a police outpost at Pipili in Puri district on Sunday indicated the lack of law and order in the state.

Three members of a family were killed by miscreants near Pattnaikiya chhak on Puri-Bhubaneswar main road at Pipili on Sunday afternoon in the presence of several people.

The incident took place close to a police camp set up for the Rath Yatra festival.

As the BJP members rushed into the well of the House and continued their demand for a discussion on the matter, Speaker S N Patro adjourned the House till 11.30 am.

The House was again adjourned till 3 pm due to protest by Congress lawmakers.

Naik also alleged that the police was working on a partisan manner and taking action against those who did not vote for the ruling BJD in the recent elections.

The Leader of Opposition cited the instance of social boycott of the family of Bidur Sahu at Bataora village in Puri district and police atrocity on women in Sundergarh district.

"I demand a statement from the chief minister on the police inaction in certain cases, leading to deterioration of law and order," Naik said.

As soon as the House met after 11.30 am, Congress members led by Taraprasad Bahinipati and Suresh Routray created an uproar condemning the government for the lack of law and order in the state. They demanded a ruling from the Chair and sought a reply from the chief minister.

The chief minister was not present in the House.

In his bid to restore normalcy in the House, the Speaker in a ruling directed the Minister of State for Home, D S Mishra, to give a statement.

However, opposition members rejected it and attempted to climb on the Speaker's podium demanding a statement from the chief minister. Finally, Patro adjourned the House till 3 pm.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said, "The law and order has virtually collapsed. It has deteriorated to such an extent that rule of jungle now prevails in the state."

"A triple murder takes place close to a police camp and a minor tribal girl is raped in Puri town despite presence of 10,000 strong police force during Rath Yatra," Mishra said.

The Congress leader said, police inaction has many times forced the people to take law into their own hands and resort to violence.

"This is anarchy and such incidents will take place, unless the government takes action.

"Therefore, I demand a statement from the chief minister and an assurance from the government that the police will take prompt action against criminals," Mishra said.