Oppn Uproar Over Embargo On Media Stalls Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Saturday was adjourned till 3 pm on Saturday after the opposition BJP and Congress members created uproarious scenes over the embargo on the media imposed by Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro the previous day.

As soon as the House session began, the Speaker ordered the commencement of the question-hour session. However, the opposition members urging the Speaker to withdraw the ruling rushed to the well of the house and shouted slogans against the government.

Unable to run the proceedings of the house, the Speaker adjourned the house till 11.30 am. As the uproarious scene prevailed, he further adjourned the House till 3 pm.

Patro on Friday had imposed an embargo on the media from reporting ruckus inside the House.

Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra said it was unfortunate that attempts were being made to throttle the voice of the media.

Condemning the Speaker’s directive, Leader of the Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik of the BJP said instead of asking the officers to attend the session, he put a ban on media coverage. “We will not allow the Speaker to run the house until he revokes his ruling,” he added.

Government chief whip Pramila Mallick, however, said that since a ruling has been given by the Speaker, it must have the constitutional sanction. “We have been sent by the people to the Assembly to raise their issues, not to create a ruckus,” she pointed out.