BJD MLA Breaks Mic On Speaker’s Podium In Odisha Assembly During Ruckus Over Assault On ASO

Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha Assembly witnessed pandemonium over the alleged assault on an Assistant Section Officer (ASO) by Governor’s son, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo allegedly broke the mic on the Speaker’s podium on Tuesday.

The incident reportedly took place when BJD members trooped into the well of the House in the afternoon in protest against the alleged assault on ASO Baikuntha Pradhan by Governor’s son Lalit Kumar on July 7.

Amid uproarious scenes, Sahoo climbed the podium of Speaker Surama Padhy and broke the microphone, sources said.

As the Assembly plunged into turmoil amid ruckus by BJD legislators, no business could be conducted and the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. The House had been adjourned twice earlier in the day over the same issue.

As soon as the House assembled for the day, BJD MLAs created a ruckus following which the Speaker first adjourned the proceedings till 11.30 am. Similar scenes prevailed when the House reassembled as the opposition members rushed into the well and demanded Kumar’s arrest for taking the law into his own hands. The House was then adjourned again till 4 PM.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, BJD chief whip Pramila Mallik said though the incident took place on July 7 no action has so far been taken against the Governor’s son.

Accusing the BJP government of trying to shield the culprit, she demanded a statement by the Chief Minister on the issue.

Dismissing BJD allegation, BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy alleged that the regional party had become intolerant as it had failed to do what the Mohan Majhi government is doing now. He sought to know as to what did the then BJD government take against several of its Ministers who were entangled in criminal cases.