Odisha Assembly Proceedings Stalled Amid Ruckus Over Collection Of Par-Boiled Rice By Arpan Raths

Bhubaneswar: Amid uproar, proceedings of the Odisha Assembly were disrupted several times on Wednesday as opposition legislators created ruckus over the presence of par-boiled rice in the rice collected by Arpan Raths.

Members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) trooped into the well of the House and created uproarious scenes claiming that par-boiled rice was mixed with that collected by the Arpan Raths ahead of the inauguration of Puri Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project.

As pandemonium prevailed over the issue, Speaker Pramila Mallik initially adjourned the House till 11.30 am. When the House reassembled, similar noisy scenes were witnessed and the proceedings were adjourned till 4 pm.

The BJP lawmakers also staged a demonstration outside the House holding posters as a mark of protest. They lashed out at the government claiming that Mahaprasad was prepared in Jagannath Temple using Arpan Rath rice which was mixed with par-boiled rice.

Senior BJP leader and opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi told reporters outside the House that parboiled rice has been mixed with Arpan Rath rice and Mahaprasad and other items are being prepared and distributed to devotees.

He said the party legislators sought an answer from the state government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the Assembly on the issue. The issue will be raised in the Assembly till the government comes out with an answer over the matter, he said.

Speaking on the issue, BJD MLA Bhagirathi Sethi accused BJP of only politicising the matter. He sought to know whether BJP has examined the Arpan Rath rice.