Opposition BJP members on Saturday staged a noisy walkout from the State Assembly and sat on a dharna at the Mahatma Gandhi statue stating that they are not being treated as the main opposition party.
During the Zero Hour, the BJP members indulged in hullaballoo in the House house after they were not allowed to speak over the alleged corruption in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the State. Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi raised the issue of large-scale irregularities in the allotment of houses to the poor under PMAY. He requested Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to give him some more time as he was speaking on behalf of Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik who is now undergoing treatment for post-Covid complications at a hospital. But the Speaker repeatedly pressed the bell asking Majhi to conclude so that an adjournment motion moved by Congress could be discussed. Enraged by the Speaker’s act, the BJP members created ruckus before walking out in protest. By holding posters and placards, they sat on dharna in front of Gandhi statue in Assembly premises. Following a direction of Speaker, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari and Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick went to the agitating BJP members and requested them to participate in the proceedings, but they refused to return to the House.
During debate on its adjournment motion, the Congress targeted the State Government over alleged corruption in Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC). Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra demanded an SIT inquiry into alleged corruption.
Replying to debate, Parliamentary Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said Government is committed to bringing transparency in recruitment process. Whenever there is an allegation of corruption against any Government employee, employee is terminated from service without delay, he said.