Proceedings were stalled in the State Assembly for second consecutive day on Thursday as ruling BJD members raised the Mahanadi and Polavaram issues again while the opposition parties insisted on seeking a discussion on the Mahanadi motion and an unconditional apology from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for ‘disrespect’ to the National Anthem by the BJD members.
When the House met at 10.30 am, BJD spokesperson Samir Ranjan Das started shouting a slogan, Mahanadi O Polavam samparkare Kendrara Abhimukya Chaliba Nahin, Jadi Chaliba Nian Jaliba (the Centre’s stand vis-a-vis Mahanadi and Polavarm is not acceptable). Soon, other members of the Treasury Bench stood up and joined Das.
On the other side, while leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra stood at his seat to say something, Speaker Niranjan Pujari did not allow him to do so. In protest, Congress members rushed into the Well of the House. BJP members too stood at their chairs.
Amidst sloganeering by ruling members and protest by Opposition members, School and Mass Education Minister Devi Prasad Mishra was replying to a question. Amidst the chaos, the Speaker adjourned the House at 10.31 am till 3 pm.
When the House reassembled in the afternoon, the leader of Opposition launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and demanded that he should tender an unconditional apology in the House for the BJD members who created a noisy scene while the National Song was being played.
“The National Anthem was disrespected in the presence of Chief Minister. He should tender an unconditional apology in the House immediately,” demanded Mishra.
He too insisted on a discussion on the motion given by the Opposition on Mahanadi issue soon. “When we (Opposition members) are ready to hold discussion on Mahanadi issue, it is not understood why the ruling party doesn’t want it and is stalling the House. We want that the motion submitted by us be accepted and discussed forthwith,” demanded Mishra.
BJD member Prabhat Ranjan Biswal and others stood at their seats and shouted slogans against the Centre stating that it has taken an anti-Odisha stand vis-à-vis construction of barrages in upstream Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh and the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.
Amidst the ruckus, Speaker Pujari called for an all-party meeting and adjourned the House for 30 minutes till 4.15 and then for another 30 minutes.
Sources said ruling party MlA Byomekesh Roy might be asked to express regret over the behaviour shown by BJD members in the House before presentation of the National Song on Wednesday.