The State Assembly on Wednesday witnessed frequent adjournments over the issue of detention and arrest of farmers at various places across the State while they were on their way to attend a massive rally organised by the Navanirmana Krushak Sangathan (NKS) here on the day.
Congress members kept demanding that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik be asked by the Speaker to make a statement as to under what law police detained and arrested the farmers and tender an apology for the unfortunate incident while BJP members continued to sit on a dharna at the Mahatma Gandhi statue throughout the day.
The House was first adjourned at 10.34 am till 3 pm over the issue.
When the House reassembled in the afternoon, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra raised the issue again and condemned the police action on farmers. “Farmers have made three legitimate demands. They have the right to demonstrate. However, the Government used police as Alsatian dog against them (farmers). We condemn it,” said Mishra.
He said unless the Chief Minister makes a statement and tenders apology, the Opposition would not cooperate in running the House. “What is the use of functioning of the House if problems are not resolved in itIJ Kindly call the Chief Minister and ask him to make a statement and tender an apology,” demanded Mishra.
Soon, all Congress members joined him and started shouting slogans.
Meanwhile, Government Chief Whip Ananta Das opposed the use of the phrase “Alsatian dog” by Mishra and refuted all his charges.
Marandi adjourned the House for one hour and called Mishra, BJP member Basanta Panda, Government Chief Whip Anant Das, Opposition Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh to his chamber to reach a consensus for smooth run of the House.
But the situation persisted against and again. After two more adjournments, Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahu presented the Demands of Grants of Supplementary Budget of his department.