BHUBANESHWAR, Mar 25: The Odisha Assembly witnessed high drama on Tuesday as twelve Congress legislators, who were suspended for seven working days by Speaker Surama Padhy, refused to leave the well of the House.
The Speaker directed the Marshals to evict the suspended Congress MLAs. However, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati announced that the suspended MLAs would spend the night inside the well.
He stated that the Congress legislators would continue their protest until the state government conceded to their demand for the formation of a House Committee to probe the rising atrocities against women and ensure their safety in the state.
Although the house was adjourned for the day after multiple adjournments, the suspended Congress MLAs continued to stage a sit-in dharna inside the well in support of their demand.
The House witnessed chaos when it convened at 10:30 AM to take up the day’s business. Opposition Congress and BJD members, holding placards, trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans in support of their respective demands.
Congress members,holding placards, disrupted proceedings by beating cymbals and playing trumpets near the podium, demanding the formation of a House Committee to address rising crimes against women.
Meanwhile, BJD members, also holding placards, demanded proportional reservations for SC, ST, and OBC candidates in engineering and medical education. They also called for a 27 percent reservation for OBCs in jobs and education.
Due to the Opposition’s protest, the House could not function for the day and was adjourned for 14 times before being finally adjourned for the day.
During the session, the Speaker convened an all-party meeting to resolve the deadlock, but it remained inconclusive.
As Congress members continued their unruly behavior, Government Chief Whip Saroj Kumar Pradhan moved a motion condemning their actions and pressed for their suspension from the House.
The motion was adopted by a voice vote, and the Speaker announced the suspension of 12 out of the 14 Congress members present in the House for seven working days. The Speaker also directed the Assembly Marshals to evict the suspended MLAs.
However, the suspended Congress MLAs refused to leave, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House multiple times.
Eventually, at 6:52 PM, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day until 10:30 AM on Wednesday, without conducting any business.
(UNI)
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