High political drama unfolded inside the Odisha Legislative Assembly during the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
The House witnessed extreme turbulence over the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and errors found in new school textbooks.
When the House reassembled at 1:10 PM under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, intense shouting and sloganeering by the opposition members made it impossible to carry on legislative business. Unable to maintain order, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House proceedings at 1:11 PM till 4:00 PM.
The session effectively lasted for merely one minute before coming to a grinding halt.
Storm Over MMDR Act and Textbook Mistakes
The opening day saw members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress trooping into the well of the House, raising aggressive slogans. Opposition legislators criticised the recent amendments to the MMDR Act passed in Parliament, alleging that it undermines Odisha’s mineral rights and revenue shares.
Adding fuel to the fire was the ongoing public outrage regarding numerous errors in newly distributed Class 1–8 school textbooks, an issue raised vehemently by opposition leaders.
Brief Proceedings and Subsequent Adjournment
The earlier session during Question Hour had already seen multiple disruptions over the same issues. When the proceedings restarted at 1:10 PM under Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi, opposition members immediately resumed their protests, surrounding the podium.
With no respite in sight, the Deputy Speaker announced a complete suspension of business from 1:11 PM to 4:00 PM within 60 seconds of the gavel striking. The government faces stiff resistance as the Opposition remains steadfast on seeking discussions and motions on these critical state matters.
