Odisha Assembly Adjourned Twice Amid Ruckus Over BJP MLA’s Koshal Remark & Women Safety

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned till 2 pm as Opposition BJD and Congress legislators created a ruckus over a controversial remark of a BJP MLA, and “rising crimes” against women in the state.

The House witnessed uproarious scenes as soon as the assembly paid homage to former minister Ananta Charan Das, who died on Sunday. The BJD members demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi over Jayanarayan Mishra’s remark at an official function in Sambalpur on Saturday when he had described the merger of Koshal with Odisha in 1936 as a “historical mistake”.

The Congress MLAs, on the other hand, raised the issue of “rising crimes” against women across the state.

The opposition members trooped into the well of the House holding placards and shouting slogans. Senior Congress member Taraprasad Bahinipati was also seen climbing onto the Speaker’s podium.

Unable to conduct the proceedings, Speaker Surama Padhy then adjourned the House till 12.09 pm.

However, pandemonium continued in the House as members assembled again, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm.

Amid the adjournments, the agitating BJD members staged a sit-in within the assembly premises accusing Mishra of making divisive remarks and disrespecting the state anthem.

The Congress MLAs also held a dharna near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.