The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Wednesday as BJD and Congress legislators launched a fierce protest over the mounting death toll following the recent fire at S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Opposition members turned the House into a theatre of protest by placing a symbolic corpse on the reporters’ table, chanting “Ram Naam Satya Hai, Hari Naam Satya Hai”, and carrying a bier around the Assembly premises while demanding the immediate resignation of the Health Minister.
As soon as the House convened, BJD and Congress MLAs rushed to the centre of the chamber and began raising slogans. BJD MLA Romanch Ranjan Biswal and Congress MLA Mangu Khilla wrapped a towel to resemble a body, garlanded it with flowers, and placed it on the reporters’ table. Other opposition members waved posters and banners calling for the minister’s resignation. Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House from 10:37 am to 11:30 am amid the uproar.
After the adjournment, the protesters carried out a symbolic bier procession outside the Assembly. BJD MLAs Romanch Ranjan Bishwal, Prashant Behera, and Congress MLAs Mangu Khilla and Nilamadhab Hikkaka shouldered the bier, while Dhruba Charan Sahoo scattered puffed rice (khai) from a gamucha and Arun Sahu sprinkled it with an attika. The entire group circled the Assembly building, chanting death slogans.
When the House resumed at 11:30 am, the opposition continued the protest by parading the symbolic corpse inside the chamber. BJP MLAs strongly condemned the act, terming it “an insult to the dignity of the House” and “cheap political drama”.
BJP MLA Bijay Dalbehera said, “This is a sensitive issue. Instead of indulging in politics, the opposition should show humanity and offer constructive suggestions. The government acted swiftly after the incident and will take action once the inquiry report is received. The opposition is disheartened after losing the Rajya Sabha election and is trying to divert attention from the Biju Naveen Inspirational Foundation Trust issue and their own MLAs defying the party whip.”
Other BJP legislators, including Santosh Khatua, Babu Singh, Sidhant Mohapatra, Sanatan Bijuli, Manoranjan Dyan Samantaray, Jalen Naik, Bibhuti Bhushan Pradhan, Saroj Kumar Padhi, and Manas Dutt, echoed the same view, asserting that anyone guilty in the SCB fire case would be punished and justice would be delivered to the people.
The opposition, however, maintained that the government lacked the minimum moral courage and must accept responsibility for the tragedy.
