Odisha legislator bangs head against Assembly Speaker’s podium

Bhubaneswar: High drama unfolded at the well of the Odisha Assembly today when an Opposition member banged head against Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s podium over closure of schools in the State for poor enrollment.

When proceedings of the House began at 3 pm following an adjournment, both BJP and Congress members created ruckus over the State government’s decision to shut around 14,000 schools for absence of adequate number of students. Congress MLA from Jeypore, Tara Prasad Bahinipati marched into the well of the House and banged his head against the Speaker’s podium.

Unable to run the House due to pandemonium, the Speaker called an all-party meeting to resolve the stand-off.

It was decided in the all-party meeting that the Government Chief Whip will move a proposal in the House tomorrow for a detailed debate over closure of the schools. The Speaker adjourned the proceedings of the House till tomorrow.

Earlier in the day when the House assembled to transact the day’s business, Congress legislators questioned the state Government’s decision to close around 14,000 Upper Primary schools in the state on grounds of poor enrolment.

Congress got support over the issue when BJP also raised the closure of schools matter in the House. Following the ruckus by Opposition members, the Speaker issued a ruling and directed School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash to issue a statement in the House by tomorrow.

Later, the Speaker adjourned the House till 3PM as Opposition members created pandemonium over the closure of schools and custodial deaths.