Odisha Assembly Adjourned Over Fuel Price Hike, Lock-Up Death

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned on Saturday due to uproar by the Opposition Congress members over the unprecedented hike in the prices of petrol and diesel while the BJP members came down heavily on the state government over the deteriorating law and order with reference to the death of a youth inside Madhyakhanda Outpost in Daspalla in Nayagarh district.

As soon as the question hour began, the Opposition Congress members demanded a discussion on the fuel price hike. On the other hand, the BJP members also demanded a high-level probe into the death of a youth in the police lock-up in Madhyakhanda Outpost in DaspallaBut as the Unable to run the house amid uproarious scene, Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the House till 11.30 am.

The House was again adjourned till 3 pm as the Congress members stuck to their demand for a discussion on fuel price hike during zero hour.

“Since last four months, there has been abnormal rise in the prices of petrol and diesel which shows that the BJP led NDA government has not been able to rein in the oil companies. As a result, when the fuel price in the international market comes down, the Centre is not able to bring down the fuel price accordingly. Besides, it has not been able to formulate a clear-cut policy to stabilise the oil prices”, leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra told media persons later.

Mishra also said the state government should be partly blamed for the fuel price hike.

On the other hand, BJP member Rabi Naik took a dig at the state government over the deteriorating law and order situation while citing the death of a youth at Madhyakhanda Outpost in Daspalla in Nayagarh district.

He said the Madhyakhanda Outpost police had picked Kalia Kathua of Simili Sahi of Daspalla area on April 16 and kept him inside the lock-up. However, in the same night, he sustained severe burn injuries. Police later admitted him to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack where he succumbed to his injuries on April 20.

“While the family members have alleged that Kalia was burnt to death by the police, the police on the other hand has said the deceased had tried to commit suicide after pouring kerosene on his body,” Naik said.

He urged the Speaker to direct the chief minister to institute a high level probe into the incident.