Bhubaneswar: The Winter Session of the state Assembly began on a stormy note Friday as opposition Congress members created a ruckus over farmers’ issue. Following repeated stalemates, Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the House till Saturday.
Soon after the House assembled at 11 am, leader of the House Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP legislature party leader KV Singh Deo paid condolences to former MLAs Prasanna Kumar Pal and Bansidhar Sahoo, two soldiers Champeswar Mahakud and Brajmohan Behera and Doordarshan video journalist Achyutananda Sahu.
Amat described the losses irreparable after which a minute’s silence was observed.
After the condolence motion was moved, Congress members rushed to the well of the House and demanded discussion on an adjournment notice on farmers cancelling the Question Hour.
They shouted slogans leading to the first adjournment till 12:14 pm. Later when the House reassembled, the pandemonium continued forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings till Saturday 10.30 am.
Congress had moved an adjournment motion on farmers’ issues and it was accepted by the Speaker. But, the Opposition wanted a discussion on the motion by cancelling the Question Hour.
Outside the House, Leader of Opposition said, “Due to the importance of the adjournment motion, Congress members demanded cancellation of the Question Hour. Had there been a discussion in the traditional manner, the gravity of the issue would have lost.”
The government has managed to foil farmers’ agitation, which is ‘murder of democracy’, Mishra alleged.
“The state government tried to suppress the farmers’ agitation using police force and was successful. We condemn this and sought to discuss the issue in the House. But the Speaker didn’t allow us. Thus, we protested,” he added.
Commenting on the issue, BJD legislator Samir Dash said there was no need to create a pandemonium since the Speaker had accepted the adjournment motion notice of the Congress.
Stating the issue was to be discussed after the Question Hour session, Dash said, “People of Odisha, who have rejected the Congress for its unruly behaviour, will not tolerate their activities in the House.”
PNN
