The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed chaos as protests by Congress and BJD legislators brought proceedings to a standstill.
Congress members, armed with bells and gongs, demanded immediate legislation to address women’s safety, citing alarming cases of abuse and exploitation. Meanwhile, BJD legislators called for proportional representation for SC, ST, and OBC students in engineering and medical education.
The Speaker’s attempts to restore order failed, leading to multiple adjournments. Both parties staged separate demonstrations outside the Assembly, with Congress members holding placards and staging unique protests with musical instruments, while BJD members rallied for caste-based census and equitable educational opportunities.
The ongoing disruptions have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Assembly in addressing critical issues, with opposition leaders accusing the government of inaction and negligence.
The Congress party once again took centre stage in the Assembly as no decisions were reached during the all-party meeting called by Speaker Surama Padhy to restore order. BJD MLAs also entered the centre of the House, creating a chaotic scene.
Following a discussion on the condolence motion for the late former MLA Devendra Sharma, Congress member Tara Prasad Bahinipati rang the bell and first approached the centre of the House. Soon after, other Congress MLAs joined him, carrying cymbals and gongs while shouting slogans demanding legislation to combat atrocities against women.
In a parallel protest, BJD MLAs created a ruckus, demanding proportional reservation for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) in engineering and medical education. Holding placards, they also took to the centre of the House.
There were additional placards calling for a special law to prevent torture. Amid the uproar and chaos, Speaker Surama Padhy attempted to continue the question-and-answer session. The first question regarding IT, posed by Jagatsinghpur MLA Amarendra Das, was discussed, although Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling reserved his reply due to the disruptive atmosphere.
Due to the disorderly situation, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly from 10:45 a.m. until 12:09 p.m. Notably, a significant portion of the budget session has been spent in suspension. The Congress party is protesting against the law and order situation in the state, demanding the formation of a House Committee on Women’s Atrocities and the introduction of a special law. The BJD has been raising various issues at different times, further inhibiting the House’s ability to function.
Outside the Assembly, Congress Legislative Party leader Ramachandra Kadam stated that atrocities against women in the state have reached alarming levels. He remarked that schoolgirls are experiencing severe abuse, and small children face sexual harassment. The Congress party is insisting on the passage of a special law in response to these issues.
He underscored that the responsibility for maintaining order in the Assembly lies with the government, accusing it of deliberately stalling proceedings. Kadam emphasized the immediate need for a special law and the formation of an assembly house committee, threatening continued agitation if these demands were not met.
The BJD party has argued that students from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds are not receiving equitable reservation in engineering and medical education, claiming that immediate action is necessary to rectify this disparity.
When the Assembly adjourned, both Congress and BJD members emerged to protest separately. Congress MLAs formed a circle under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, demanding the prompt establishment of an assembly house committee. They engaged in an innovative protest by playing bells and drums beneath the statue.
Meanwhile, BJD MLAs gathered under the statue of Biju Patnaik to protest against the caste-based census. MLA Arun Sahu asserted that the ratios of SC, ST, and Backward Classes in the state are 40% and 54%, respectively. He insisted that these communities are being denied fair representation in education, impacting 94% of the population.
Sahu reminded that during the BJD government, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan previously advocated for reservation for backward classes, and he stressed that the current government must take action as the time for enrollment in various engineering and medical courses approaches.
While both BJD and Congress expressed their grievances, BJP MLA Purna Chandra Sethi from Khallikot accused the opposition of obstructing legislative business. He claimed that, despite the government being open to discussion, the opposition prefers to protest rather than engage in dialogue, thereby undermining the dignity of the MLAs.
During the Assembly session, the Speaker initially adjourned proceedings until 12:00 PM, but as soon as business resumed, protests from BJD and Congress MLAs forced multiple adjournments throughout the afternoon. Deputy Speaker Bhavanishankar Bhoi attempted to convene discussions with some leaders, but a resolution remained elusive.
