Bhubaneswar: The legislators of the ruling-BJD on Saturday demanded unconditional apology from BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi who attempted to kill self by consuming hand sanitiser under the premises of Odisha Assembly yesterday.
The BJD MLAs and Ministers today trooped into the Well of the House and raised slogans stating that they will not let the House run till the BJP MLA apologises for his act in the Assembly.
On the other hand, Congress MLAs today created ruckus by raising the mandi issue in the Legislative Assembly, especially in western Odisha.
Following the pandemonium, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro adjourned the proceedings of the second phase of the Budget session of Odisha Assembly till 11: 30 AM.
On the other hand, Congress MLA Tara Bahinipati said that the BJD MLAs intentionally disrupted the proceedings of the House to avoid discussion on the mandi issue.
"This is the first instance when the BJD ministers created ruckus in the Well of the House. We will not allow the Assembly to function until they seek apology," said Bahinipati.
Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi said, "There is no question of apologising. The Speaker has the power, he should take the decision. When the government didn't listen to him, what he would have done. We are having an anti-farmer government here which never care for the farmers' problems."
"We strongly condemned the suicide bid by the BJP MLA in the House. We hadn't witnessed such an instance in the House ever. He (Subash Panigrahi) should immediately apologise," said BJD MLA Pratap Deb.
BJP MLA from Deogarh, Subash Chandra Panigrahi attempted to end his life alleging the State government’s failure in resolving various issues related to the agrarian distress in the State like mismanagement at mandis, irregularities in paddy procurement, including the token system, on Friday.
Panigrahi tried to drink the contents from a bottle of hand sanitiser as a mark of protest during briefing by the State Supplies Minister Ranendra Swain in the House. However, he was prevented from consuming the liquid by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukha and some other legislators present in the vicinity.