The proceedings of the Odisha legislative Assembly were parlaysed on the third consecutive day on Saturday.
The House, which witnessed three adjournments before it was finally adjourned for the day till Monday next, could run for only five minutes. Both the Opposition Congress and the ruling BJD members continued denigrating each other, displaying large placards amidst slogans.
While the Treasury Bench members took on the Congress on various issues, the Congress members tried to invade the Speaker’s podium, besides putting up angry demonstration in the well demanding resignation of Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya for his alleged controversial remark during the recent UlB elections in western Odisha.
The problem began with the placard war gathering strength as soon as the House assembled for the day at 10.30 am with Speaker Pradipta Kumar Amat taking up the Question Hour. The Speaker asked Planning and Coordination Minister Maheswar Mohanty to reply to a question by Santosh Singh Saluja of Congress.
While the Minister was replying, the Congress members trooped into the Well of the House, carrying banners and shouting slogans.
The Opposition members protested against alleged use of huge amount of money by the ruling party to win the UlB elections in western Odisha and resignation of Finance Minister Achayra for his alleged threat to voters that he would stop providing funds to western Odisha if they did not cast vote for the BJD.
After the Minister finished his reply, Amat asked the questioner Saluja to make his supplementary. As his party members were in the Well, he did not respond to Speaker.
Immediately, the members of the Treasury Bench were on their toes and shouted slogans alleging negligence of the Central Government in fund allocation to take up restoration and repair work in the cyclone and flood-hit areas of the State to counter the Opposition. The BJD members also accused the Congress members of taking money from Bhushan Steel for not allowing a discussion on the adjournment motion given by them relating to the recent explosion in the plant.
The allegation by the BJD members triggered uproarious scene in the House as the Congress members intensified their demonstration. Chaotic situation prevailed in the House. The Speaker tried to bring normalcy for smooth conduct of the business of the House by requesting the agitating members to return to their seats, but it failed.
Finding it difficult to conduct the business of the House, the Speaker adjourned the House at 10.32 am, two minutes after the start of the House proceedings till 12.00 hours.
When the House reassembled at 12 noon, there was no change in the situation. The Opposition members again rushed into the well, shouting slogans and displaying banners.
Amidst the din, the Speaker asked School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda to make an announcement about the hike in the emoluments of Shiksa Sahayaks (SSs) and junior teachers in Government primary and UP schools.
The Speaker repeatedly asked the Opposition members to take their seat and participate in the proceedings. But the latter did not pay any heed. The Speaker, finding it difficult to run the proceedings, was forced to adjourn the House for the second time at 12.02 pm till 3 pm.
The House could conduct business only for four minutes in the pre-lunch session due to the continued pandemonium.
However, as there was no change in the situation in the post-lunch sitting at 3 pm and the demonstrating Congress members continued to disrupt the proceedings and tried to barge upon the Speaker’s podium and clash with the watch and ward staff members, Deputy Speaker Sanad Marandi finally adjourned the House for the day till 10.30 am on Monday.
The House transacted its business on Friday for only 23 minutes as both the Opposition and Treasury Bench members got involved in denouncing each other through posters and slogans.