Pandemonium continued in the State Assembly for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday with the Opposition members pressing the Speaker for a discussion on the chit fund scam, leading to adjournment of the House to Thursday.
However, the Government managed to pass the Odisha Pani Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in the post-lunch sitting as the ruling BJD members, after their uproarious acts in the House, resumed their seats though the Opposition Congress and BJP created persisted ruckus in the Well.
As soon as the House assembled for the day for Question Hour, BJP members holding banners and raising slogans for a discussion on the chit fund scam captured the Speaker’s podium and tried to prevent him from taking his seat.However, Speaker Niranjan Pujari occupied his chair with BJP members including leader of BJP legislature Party Basant Panda standing on his podium.
BJD members also rushed to the Well of the House raising anti-Centre slogans leading to noisy scenes. Congress members stood up from their seats and protested in silence with black cloth bands on their mouths before the Speaker adjourned the House several times until the final adjournment for the day.leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress blamed the Treasury Bench members for stalling the House for days on end.
“It is seen that the Speaker adjourns the House when the BJD members rush to the Well. When Opposition members stage protest in the Well, the Speaker asks Ministers to introduce Bills,” Mishra pointed out, saying that the Bills are being passed in a highly undemocratic manner without discussions.
“Treasury bench members stalling proceedings by coming into the Well of House in the presence of the Chief Minister is probably the rarest anywhere in the country. This is most unfortunate and I condemn it,” Mishra said outside the House.BJP State president and MlA KV Singh Deo justified his party MlAs’ action, stating that there was nothing undemocratic in climbing the Speaker’s podium.
BJD spokesman and MlA Samir Ranjan Dash said, “The Speaker should suspend the BJP members who prevented him from occupying his chair.”