The State Assembly on the very first day of its Winter Session on Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes over farmers’ issues raised by the opposition Congress and the BJP and the ruling BJD as well, leading to adjournment of the House for the day without any transaction.
As the House met at 11am, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik brought an obituary reference in respect of a former Minister, late Muralidhar Guru and a former member, late Samaya Kisku for mourning their deaths and conveying condolences of the House to the bereaved families. After condolences, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra wanted to say something about farmers’ problems but Speaker Pradeep Kumar Amat didn’t allow him and called for the Question Hour. In protest, the Congress and BJP members holding paddy plant bunches and banners rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the State Government over its “failures” in resolving farmers’ problems and incidences of farmer suicides.
The BJP members blamed Chief Minister Patnaik for the rising trend of suicide of farmers in their slogans.
On the other side, ruling BJD members stood at their chairs and shouted slogans against the Union Government for not hiking minimum support price (MSP) for paddy to Rs 2,930.
As commotion continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for one hour at 11.09 am. But since the situation remained unaltered after the House reassembled at 12.09 pm, the Speaker again adjourned the House for 30 minutes and then for the day.
The BJD members sat on a dharana at the Gandhi statue in the Assembly promises pressing their demands.