In strongly-worded statements in a Press Conference on Sunday, BJP MLAs condemned Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s act of suspending three party legislators of the party from the House in the recently concluded Budget Session on April 3, describing it as sheer ‘partiality’.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Kumar Naik said that it is quite unfortunate to note that while an MLA can stand and speak but the Leader of Opposition can’t. And that’s too when two important Bills are being passed, he lamented.
“When the BJP members protested and attempted to draw the Speaker’s attention, they were suspended at the behest of the ruling BJD. This is a condemnable act and we sat the whole night in dharna at the Gandhi Statue in front of the Assembly lodging our protest,” Naik stated.
“Only when party deputy observer to the State Bijaya Pal Singh Tomar requested to come out of dharna, we called off our agitation,” added Naik. He further observed that while the Chief Minister is on whirlwind tours to districts like Sundargarh, Cuttack and Kalahandi for party programmes, he has no time to attend the Assembly session. Despite his words and assurances on paddy procurement, nothing worked in favour of farmers, Naik told.
Naik further added that to hide own misdeeds, the ruling party disrupted the business of the House for quite five days.
And it is highly deplorable that the Speaker gave a statement outside the House and sought apology from a BJP member, who was protesting against the Government’s failure in paddy procurement, the LoP slammed further.
BJP MLA Jaya Narayan Mishra too condemned the Speakers act. Mishra pointed out that on such occasions earlier, to avoid discussion in the issue of the mysterious murder of Nayagarh girl Pari, the ruling party had adjourned the House a month before the scheduled time. Now when Opposition demanded discussion on mining issue, they didn’t allow to speak, he said.
Party Chief Whip in the Assembly Mohan Charan Majhi announced that BJP MLAs would continue their fight on issues pertaining to farmers, border dispute, law and order, sand mafia, mining corruption etc, without caring the repressive action on them.
In the latest development, the BJP MLAs led by LoP Naik met Governor Ganeshi Lal on the day and urged him to ensure that the six Bills passed in the Assembly are reverted to the House for holding debates on them.