Odisha’s ruling party playing role of Opposition: BJP

Bhubaneswar:  With no end in sight to the pandemonium in Odisha Assembly,  BJP today alleged that the ruling BJD is deliberately creating ruckus in the House playing the role of the Opposition.

As the virtual face-off between members of both the ruling and the Opposition continued for the fourth day today leading to adjournment of the House, BJP MLA Mohan Majhi said, “It is the job of the Opposition to highlight the Government’s failures and stage protest in the Well of the House . But it is strange that the ruling party is playing the role of Opposition as its legislators, including Ministers are protesting in the Well of the House disrupting the proceedings.”

The Speaker has not yet called for an all-party meeting to restore normalcy in the House. The ruling party is  intentionally creating ruckus to avoid discussion on various serious issues in the House.

                                                                                                    Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi

Soon after the House assembled for the day and the Zero Hour commenced, MLAs of BJD,  BJP and Congress went on protesting and sloganeering against each other. While BJD members reiterated its demand for BJP MLA Subash Panigrahi’s apology for his suicide attempt inside the House, BJP and Congress MLAs raked up the issue of Mandi mismanagement. The legislators later went  to the Well of the House while continuing their protest.

Following the uproar, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro adjourned the House thrice till 4 PM today and called for an all-party meeting to restore normalcy in the House.

Last evening,  Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra write a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking his intervention to end the deadlock going on in the House since first day of the second phase Assembly Budget Session.

Reiterating his party’s demand for purchase of unsold paddy from genuine farmers, Mishra said, “My party demanded the purchase of unsold paddy from genuine farmers, besides, your government had also promised in the House to purchase the paddy on February 26, 2021 from genuine farmers and also initiate criminal proceeding against fake farmers and govt officials involved in the process. It is unfortunate to note that, no action is being taken in spite of promise made in the floor in the Assembly.”

“On the other hand,  a member tried to commit suicide consuming sanitizer placing his demand for farmers, on the other hand, members of Ruling Party are creating ruckus demanding his apology, for which, real problems of farmers and other state problems are being sidelined due to this deadlock instead of being discussed. As a Leader of the House, you are supposed to intervene in the matter taking confidence to all the parties for restoration of normalcy in the House,” the CLP leader said in the letter.