The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed an unusual protest by the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs who performed an innovative act of purification.
Alleging desecration of the sacred House due to external disturbances and alleged misconduct, BJD legislators sprinkled Ganga water in and around the Assembly on Thursday to restore its sanctity.
This creative form of protest unfolded during the Question Hour, when senior MLAs, including Dhruba Charan Sahu, Rama Ranjan Biswal, Chakramani Kahnar, and Naba Mallik, held Kalash (sacred pots) filled with Ganga water and began sprinkling it throughout the premises.
The Speaker, Surma Padhy, intervened and advised the members against bringing Kalash into the Assembly. However, the MLAs continued their purification efforts outside the premises, sprinkling water along the perimeter of the legislative building.
The BJD legislators asserted that external elements had tarnished the sanctity of the Assembly, necessitating the symbolic ritual to purify and protect the House’s integrity. While the ruling party emphasized the spiritual significance of their protest, BJP and Congress members criticized the act, terming it unnecessary and symbolic politics.
Responding to the situation, Minister Suresh Pujari said, “The Assembly is inherently a sacred place of democracy, and there is no need for additional rituals to purify it.” Despite this, the purification ritual concluded peacefully, leading to a smooth continuation of the Question Hour and subsequent proceedings.
Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallick, along with BJD legislators, accused the BJP of prioritizing theatrics over governance. Meanwhile, BJD leaders defended their actions, claiming it was a symbolic attempt to restore the dignity of the Assembly.
As legislative activities resumed, the protest left citizens divided over its relevance. Some applauded the creative expression, while others called for more pragmatic approaches to addressing political disputes.
