LIVE TV
Odisha
Recommended Stories
Bhubaneswar: Odisha assembly plunged into turmoil on the concluding day of the winter session on Saturday with opposition Congress members virtually capturing the speaker's podium, breaking his mike and calling Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik a 'dictator'.
Congress was on the offensive as soon as the house assembled for the day as its members vented their anger against Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat who rejected an adjournment notice on the farmers issue.
Amat, who had for the last two days refused to accept opposition's notices, also rejected the adjournment notice given by Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan.
The issue was raised by leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh as soon as the question hour began while the party MLAs rushed to the well holding banners demanding bonus on paddy procurement and hike in its minimum support price.
While Congress MLAs were shouting slogans in the well, three of them - Nihar Mahananda, Jogesh Singh and Dusmant Nayak - climbed on the speaker's podium and lied on the desk.
They threw papers on the Speaker's desk while another member scuffled with marshals on the podium.
Unable to restore normalcy, the Speaker adjourned the house till 12.30 pm.
Similar situation continued when the house reassembled. However, sorrounded by marshals, the speaker ensured passage of Odisha Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2012 and referred the Odisha Property Rights to Slum Dwellers and Prevention of New slums Bill, 2012 to select committee before adjourning the House again till 3 pm.
When the house reassembled again at 3 pm, opposition members rushed to the well, while some of them climbed on the speaker's podium and broke his mike forcing Amat to use a chordless mike for passing of Odisha Municipal Corporation (second Amendment) Bill, 2012 and Odisha Muhammadan Marriage and Divorce Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2011.
As the din continued, the Leader of the Opposition was heard calling the chief minister a 'dictator'.
"You have killed democracy in this August House," Singh was heard shouting at top of his voice while his partymen were still demonstrating in the well.
In the din, the speaker announced the valedictory session by allowing the Chief Minister give a statement and adjourning the house sine-die.
Slamming the state government, the chief minister and the speaker, the opposition boycotted the valedictory session.
