Odisha Assembly Proceedings Stalled As Ruckus Continues

Bhubaneswar: All transactions in the Odisha Assembly have been stalled on Monday for third consecutive day due to protest and counter protests by the members of Opposition and treasury benches in the well of the House.

Soon after the House reassembled for the day, Opposition Congress and BJP stormed into the well and created heavy noise over Mandi mismanagement across the State.

Similarly, ruling party members also staged protests in the House demanding apology from BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi who tried to undermine the dignity of the Assembly by attempting to commit suicide.

Unable to run the House amid heavy pandemonium, Speaker SN Patro adjourned the House till 11.30 am.

Similar situation prevailed after the House reassembled which forced the Speaker to adjourn again till 4 pm.

Meanwhile, Congress has trained its gun against the government for assuming a lackadaisical approach towards the plight of farmers.

"Our protest will continue in the House till farmers' paddy is procured at all mandis across the State. The Speaker is yet to convene an all-party meeting to resolve the issue. Farmer commits suicide and MLA tried to kill self in the House, but Chief Minister is laughing," Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahiniapti.

Similarly, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik extended support to his party colleague Subash Panigrahi. "Token issued to the farmers lapsed, but government didn't procure paddy from them. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should first beg apology. The Speaker has no rights to make any statement outside the Assembly. He should also tender apology in the House first," Naik said.

There is no question of Panigrahi to beg apology, he added.