Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Thursday was adjourned twice as the opposition Congress and BJP members created a ruckus over inordinate delay in paddy procurement following protests by farmers against the online token system.
As soon as the House session began, Speaker Surya Narayan Patro announced commencement of the question hour session. The Congress members, however, urged him to cancel the question hour and allow discussion on paddy procurement and the token system.
When the Speaker ignored their demand, irate Congress members led by Taraprasad Bahinipati and Santosh Singh Saluja rushed to the well of the House. Bahinipati, who blew a flying kiss at Patro for allowing him to speaking first among 147 members on Tuesday, went back to his usual antics and tried to climb the Speaker’s podium while urging him to direct the minister concerned to make a statement on this issue in the House.
Amid the uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am.
The House was again adjourned till 12.30 pm as the Congress and the BJP members reiterated their demand during the zero hour.
The Speaker later convened an all-party meeting to resolve the impasse.
