Odisha Assembly Speaker Allows Special Discussion On Paddy Procurement On Monday

Bhubaneswar: With opposition parties disrupting the proceedings of the Assembly over paddy procurement issue for the last two days, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Saturday announced that a special discussion on the matter will be held on Monday.

The Speaker made the announcement after holding an all-party meeting as members of opposition Congress and BJP continued to create ruckus over the procurement of paddy of the farmers from mandis. He said the matter will be discussed for two hours in Monday forenoon including question and answer session.

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Naik tore up a copy of the reply of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain and threw it at the Speaker’s podium. The minister had submitted a written reply to a question raised by Naik on procurement issue. Not satisfied with the minister’s reply, the BJP members demanded an all-party meeting.

Senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati also requested the Speaker to ensure smooth procurement of paddy and demanded for an adjournment motion to debate on the issue.

After adjourning the House till 5.15 PM and again till 5.40 PM, the Speaker called the all-party meeting.