Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 27: The Assembly was stalled for the third consecutive day Friday with the Congress and BJP calling for a rollback of the power tariff hike.
As Question Hour began, opposition members rushed to the Well of the House shouting slogans against the government, prompting Speaker Niranjan Pujari to adjourn the House till 12.50 pm.
Ruling BJD members added to the commotion, displaying placards alleging that Congress and BJP members have joined hands in Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd’s (MCL) decision not to sponsor the government’s ‘Aahar’ scheme.
The scheme aims at providing cooked food at Rs 5 a meal to urban poor from April 1. The government had asked MCL to bear the burden of the scheme in Sambalpur town.
Ruling party MLAs also staged a dharna under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the Assembly premises against MCL’s decision.
When the House reassembled at 12.50 pm, opposition members were already in the Well demanding adjournment of the House till the government announces a rollback of the power tariff.
Even as din continued, Pujari allowed discussion on the demands of the home and general administration department. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is charge of both departments, moved the notice and the demands were passed without participation of opposition members.
The Speaker said, “As the power minister and department secretary are absent, no discussion was held on tariff hike. A meeting on this will be held March 30.”
Meanwhile, the BJP staged a dharna in front of Raj Bhawan demanding the rollback of the decision announced Monday.
“The decision to hike the power tariff is unjustified,” said OPCC chief Prasad Harichandan. P 5
It would put extra burden on power consumers. The dues payable to NTPC by GRIDCO are being passed on to consumers. The Congress would continue its agitation till the government reverses its decision on power tariff hike,” said OPCC president Prasad Harichandan.
The Orissa Power Consumers’ Federation has called for a state-wide bandh March 31 in protest against the hike.
“We are here to give vent to the public anger. Instead of recovering dues from defaulters, why is the government passing it on to consumers? The government should withdraw the power tariff hike immediately or else the agitation will be intensified,” senior BJP leader Bhrugu Buxipatra said.
