The BJD on the other hand has also prepared itself to counter the offensive.
The Congress in its legislature party meeting held on Friday decided the strategies. “We will corner the government with issues of how they took law into their hands during elections and resorted to unfair means to sail through,” said senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra.
The saffron party said it has several issues, starting from cameraman Manas Swain murder case to Awas Yojana scam to launch attack on the ruling party. “As regards political intolerance, Odisha is heading in the direction of West Bengal. We will raise this issue as well,” said Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi.
On the other hand, the government is all set to pass four important bills during the ongoing Budget session.
“If the issues to be raised by the Opposition parties are for the benefit of the State, we will be ready to take part in discussion,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh.
Reviewing the arrangements at the Assembly with Twin City police Commissioner and other senior officials of the police, DGP RP Sharma today informed that elaborate security has been put in place to prevent any kind of untoward incident near the Assembly.
“We have made adequate security arrangements as per the practiced scale which we have been following in last many sessions. We will have officers in plain clothes and Quick Reaction Team (QAT) officials to keep strict vigil inside the Assembly,” said Sharma
The DGP said, “Commissionerate Police has been provided with additional manpower resources so that they are able to deploy 30 platoons of armed police and nearly 100 police officers. Three control rooms have been set up while the Twin City Police have also been asked to tone up their intelligence collection system so that strict vigilance can be kept on anti-social elements and thwart any suspicious security threat.”
For armed intervention, two units of Special Operations Group (SOG) have also been roped in.
In view of the various agitations which are likely to come up during the ensuing session near the Assembly area, the DGP said agitators can stage their protest peacefully but they should not resort to any violent activities.
At the place of agitation, barricading has been done and CCTV cameras have also been installed.
The Police DG added that Traffic Police have been given additional support to ensure that the normal life is not hampered during the regulated traffic movement through the area during the session.
As soon as Governor Ganeshi Lal started reading the achievements of the State Government, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra stood up protesting State Government's all-round failure in addressing paddy procurement. Later, members of the Congress party staged a walkout from the Assembly.
Speaking to media persons later, Congress leader Narasingha Mishra criticised the Governor's address in Assembly. "The address of the Governor has skirted the main issues confronting the State. The written speech read by Governor is an attempt to eulogise State Government. The Congress party staged a walk out to protest ruling party's abhorrent attitude," alleged Mishra.
The members of the Congress party later joined the proceedings of the House. After expressing condolences to former ministers (Bhagabat Mohanty, Jagannath Rout) and members (Satchidananda Deo, Bhagirathi Das, Radha Govinda Sahu, Daittari Behera, Naka Lachhimaya and Gourahari Naik) of the House, Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati protested over absence of officers in Official's gallery.
Expressing dissatisfaction over Speaker's reply, Congress members trooped into the well of the House. Members created a ruckus in the House. Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro then gave a ruling that put an embargo on media to cover the proceedings of the House at that hour.
Protesting the ruling, BJP members alleging the ruling unconstitutional and undemocratic entered the well of the House.
When ruling party chief whip Pramila Mallick was speaking on Motion of thanks on Governor's address, members from opposition BJP and Congress created a ruckus, which then forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
Speaking to media persons, Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati termed the ruling of the Speaker reminiscent of British era. He charged that the State is being ruled by Officers. "Congress will not let the House function till the Speaker rescinds its ruling," he thundered.
Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Pradipta Naik condemned the Speaker's ruling. Calling it unconstitutional, Naik said the Speaker is responsible for the adjournment. Instead of giving a ruling asking officers to attend the session, Speaker put a ban on media coverage.
On the other hand, ruling BJD charged the opposition of playing to gallery for gaining cheap popularity. "When a ruling has been given by Speaker, it must have constitutional sanction. People send us here to raise and deliberate on people's issues, not raising ruckus to draw media attention," said BJD Chief Whip Pramilla Mallick.
A day already washed out. Today, half of the day's sitting already lost. The big point to note here is each minute of the session costs nearly 1 crore. How?
Consider this. Because, as per ballpark estimates by the Assembly Secretariat, each MLA was given Rs 800/day as DA plus travel allowance from their respective constituencies to Bhubaneswar @ Rs10/km. Sources said around Rs 1.5 lakh spent on this account on the Day 1. Also, Rs 3000 spent on every question asked in Assembly. So, how staggering the loss now is anybody's guess.
Now, why the State Assembly stands paralysed? In fact, storm brewed over absence of officers in Official gallery, says Congress leader Taraprasad Bahinipati.
"As per rules, I pointed to the Speaker about the absence of officers in official gallery. I tried to draw Speaker's attention to the violation of House rules. But Speaker gave a ruling that put an embargo on media coverage of the furore at the floor of the House at that hour, " said Bahinipati.
LOP and BJP leader Pradipta Naik said, " Speaker should have instructed officers to attend the session, instead an embargo was clamped on media coverage. For which, BJP members protested the 'unconstitutional' ruling of the Speaker."
Now, the moot point is, this is a storm over a tea cup or has inherent trigger factors?
Let's have a fact check: Consider what the Manual of Parliamentary Procedures in the Government of India says,
In Sec 1:7, regarding presence of officers in the official gallery, the manual has very clear rules.
First, it said officer of the Ministry/Department shall be present in the Official Gallery in regard to different kinds of business, and which are to be laid down by departmental instructions.
Why officers' presence mandated? Because, the manual says "The officer of the Ministry/Department present in the Official Gallery should have with him all the relevant papers, including a duplicate of the set of papers submitted to the Minister.
The Manual has a clear rule that mandate the need of "A roster of officers to be drawn up to attend Parliament during general debates concerning all Ministries/ Departments, such as budget, President’s address, etc., expected to last for several hours (or even days) to note down points of interest to the Ministry/Department. Copies of the notes taken should reach the Secretary and Minister concerned the same evening. Briefs will be prepared on those points which require a reply."
It is this rule violation, the Opposition in State Assembly have alleged. And the storm kicked off.
This is simply storm over rules or has any politics behind? Since Assembly session is run by politicians. So politics is inherent in every step and actions here.
The politics is the Congress Party wants to fire at CM Naveen Patnaik over the shoulders of Officers.
The statement of Tara that there is Officer Raj in the State, but we will not let the Officer Raj encroach the Assembly, attests to the Congress game plan.
The Bottom line is Speaker could have easily defused the situation there and then with a simple direction. But by giving the opposition a handle to beat, made this trifle issue a big one that goes on to disrupt the proceedings in House for second day too.
When seen through political prism, then the Round 1 has been seemingly won by Opposition. Because, they successfully hoisted an attack on CM via the 'Officer raj'.
As per a notification issued on Monday, the budget session this year, which will begin with the Governor Ganeshi Lal's address on the 18th, will have 31 working days.
Following the presentation of the budget for this year, the Bills and Resolutions will be presented on February 24, April 5, 7 and 9. The Appropriation Bill on the Budget for 2021-22 would be presented on March 31, the notification said.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2021-22 in Parliament today, which is the first budget of this new decade and also a digital one in the backdrop of unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.
Laying a vision for AatmaNirbhar Bharat, the FinMin said this is an expression of 130 crore Indians who have full confidence in their capabilities and skills. She said that Budget proposals will further strengthen the Sankalp of Nation First, Doubling Farmers' Income, Strong Infrastructure, Healthy India, Good Governance, Opportunities for youth, Education for All, Women Empowerment, and Inclusive Development among others.
The Union Finance Minister said that the Budget proposals for 2021-22 rest on 6 pillars.
READ | Union Budget 2021-22: Key Highlights & Takeaways