Oppn Gheraoes Speaker Over Mining Scam, Odisha Assembly Adjourned Till 4 PM

Bhubaneswar: The penultimate day of the monsoon session of the State Assembly was stalled on Wednesday amid an uproar by the Opposition Congress and BJP members.

As soon as the question hour session began, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra requested Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro to accept the adjournment notice for a discussion on the mining scam in the state.

When the Speaker rejected his request, the Congress and the BJP members rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogans against the government.

Unable to run the proceedings, he adjourned the house till 11.30 am.

Soon after the adjournment, Congress and BJP members gheraoed the Speaker in his Assembly chamber demanding a discussion on the mining scam.

As the Opposition members detained the Speaker, Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh announced the adjournment of the house till 4 pm.

“The Opposition members led by Narasingha Mishra came to my chamber and asked me to allow a discussion on the mining issues. I told them that the Speaker does not represent the government. He is the presiding officer. I also explained to them why I rejected their adjournment notice and advised them to raise the issue during the zero hour. But they stuck to their demands,” Patro told mediapersons later.