Uproar prevailed in the State Assembly for the second day on Thursday with the Opposition Congress members demonstrating in the Well of the House demanding withdrawal of the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House on Wednesday.
Due to the continued pandemonium, the Question Hour could not be transacted. Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat had to adjourn the House till 11.30 am three minutes after the beginning of the day's
sitting at 10.30 am.
As soon as the House assembled, the Congress members trooped into the Well shouting anti-Government slogans and demanded that the Government withdraw the Bill and reintroduce it after incorporating the Supreme Court's relevant direction and a provision for reservation in contractual jobs to protect the interests of SCs and STs.
As the Speaker, ignoring the pandemonium, tried to carry on the Question Hour, some Congress members further tried to stall the proceedings and clashed with the Watch and Ward staff in their bid to reach the Speaker's podium.
The Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am only after transaction of two minutes.
Even after the House reassembled at 11.30 am, the Congress members resumed anti-Government slogans and displayed banners with the demand for withdrawal of the Bill.
Though leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh wanted to raise his point regarding the controversial Bill, the Speaker took up the listed official business of laying of reports and then the discussion on the important official resolution relating to the demand for Special Category State status to Odisha.
As per the direction of the Speaker, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved the resolution, "The House resolves to recommend the State Government to urge upon the Central Government to declare Odisha as a Special Category State as a measure of removing regional imbalance and provide additional Central grants and fiscal incentives for its development".
As the Chief Minister continued his statement in support of the official resolution, normalcy returned to the House.
On Wednesday, the Congress members had also pressed a division of votes during the introduction stage of the ORV Bill. After the division was lost, the Congress members had staged a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises in support of their demand and against the "anti-SC and ST attitude" of the State Government.
Due to the continued pandemonium, the Question Hour could not be transacted. Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat had to adjourn the House till 11.30 am three minutes after the beginning of the day's
sitting at 10.30 am.
As soon as the House assembled, the Congress members trooped into the Well shouting anti-Government slogans and demanded that the Government withdraw the Bill and reintroduce it after incorporating the Supreme Court's relevant direction and a provision for reservation in contractual jobs to protect the interests of SCs and STs.
As the Speaker, ignoring the pandemonium, tried to carry on the Question Hour, some Congress members further tried to stall the proceedings and clashed with the Watch and Ward staff in their bid to reach the Speaker's podium.
The Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am only after transaction of two minutes.
Even after the House reassembled at 11.30 am, the Congress members resumed anti-Government slogans and displayed banners with the demand for withdrawal of the Bill.
Though leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh wanted to raise his point regarding the controversial Bill, the Speaker took up the listed official business of laying of reports and then the discussion on the important official resolution relating to the demand for Special Category State status to Odisha.
As per the direction of the Speaker, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik moved the resolution, "The House resolves to recommend the State Government to urge upon the Central Government to declare Odisha as a Special Category State as a measure of removing regional imbalance and provide additional Central grants and fiscal incentives for its development".
As the Chief Minister continued his statement in support of the official resolution, normalcy returned to the House.
On Wednesday, the Congress members had also pressed a division of votes during the introduction stage of the ORV Bill. After the division was lost, the Congress members had staged a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises in support of their demand and against the "anti-SC and ST attitude" of the State Government.