Ruckus On In Odisha Assembly: BJD & Congress In Cahoots, Avoiding Discussions, Says BJP

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha legislative assembly plunged into pandemonium for the third consecutive day on Wednesday with BJD MLAs staging a walkout over ‘inaction’ against Odisha Governor’s son in the alleged assault of a government official, and Congress MLAs created ruckus alleging neglect of Odisha in Union Budget 2024.

The House was adjourned till 4 pm as the all-party meeting convened by the Speaker to resolve the impasse, also remained inconclusive.

Reacting to the development, the BJP said that BJD and Congress are into a “joint-venture” to disrupt proceedings of the assembly and stalling development of state. “On the first day of assembly, Congress raised an issue about Governor’s address which was in Hindi. What happened to their conscience when the Leader of Opposition (Naveen Patnaik) was delivering his address in English,” said BJP MLA Babu Singh.

Taking a dig at Congress, Singh cited former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s ‘paisa kiya ped pe ugta hai’ (does money grow on trees) remark, during a discussion with former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik (in April, 2014). “….and today they are complaining about the Union Budget terming it anti-Odisha,” the Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA said.

The BJP legislator further stated that the BJD had no face to raise law and order issue. He claimed that the previous BJD government had not taken action against some ministers during its rule despite their names being associated with heinous crimes like murder.

Earlier speaking to the media, BJD MLA Kalikesh Singh Deo said that they are disappointed with the way the new government is functioning. “Why is the business advisory meeting not being convened to resolve the impasse. Why is government not making a statement on the issue in the House? The House is supreme and this is what holds the government accountable to the people of Odisha. There is a lack of respect on the part of the government for Odisha Assembly and its proceedings,” he told reporters.

He further claimed that no effort is being made by the government to run the House, fearing that its trouble would mount once the proceedings starts. “There are a lot of issues including price rise and Centre’s neglect of the state as was evident in the Union Budget in which the state got nothing substantial despite sending 20 BJP MPs to Lok Sabha. The government is afraid of any discussion on these issues. Being a regional party, interest of Odisha is paramount for us,” he said.