The State Assembly was adjourned till 3 pm on Friday as ruling BJD members strongly protested fuel price hike and Congress and BJP members continued shouting slogans against the Government’s ‘apathetic’ attitude in fulfilling teachers’ demands.
As soon as the House met for the day, BJD members stood at their chairs and shouted slogans against the Union Government for steep hike in petrol and diesel prices. On the opposition side, BJP members stood at their benches and demanded fulfilment of teachers’ demands at the earliest. Congress members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the State Government for not resolving teacher issues for which teaching has been affected in the State.
Amid sloganeering and protests, Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat adjourned the House at 10.32 am till 3 pm.
When the House reassembled in the afternoon, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra expressed deep concern over the way the House was adjourned till 3 pm and no business conducted.
“We (Congress members) had raised fuel price hike issue in the House on September 4 and the ruling members remained mum. You suspended the House till 11.30 am that day. But today, as the ruling members raised the issue, you immediately adjourned the House till 3 pm. It seems that the House is being run at the whims of the Government,” alleged Mishra.
He even wanted to know whether the Chair would adjourn the House for the day on September 10 as Congress members might not join the House for the scheduled Bharat Bandh that day.
Raising the teacher issue, Mishra said, “It is most unfortunate that the State Government is not holding talks with teachers to resolve their demands while teaching has been severely affected due to the strike.”
Besides, he slammed the Government for lawyers’ strike. “The lawyers have been on strike against police excesses for which common people have been facing problems in getting justice. Similarly, lawyers in western Odisha have been staging cease-work demanding a Permanent High Court bench in western part of the State. While the justice system has been paralysed, the State Government has sat silent,” lamented Mishra.
He demanded that the Chief Minister make a statement on the teacher and lawyers’ strike issues in the House soon.
On the suggestion of members, the Speaker adjourned the House at 3.14 pm till Monday.