The winter session of the Odisha Assembly began on a stormy note on Tuesday with the Opposition Congress and BJP stepping up attack on the government seeking detailed discussion on the issue of farmer suicides and prevailing drought situation.
After the House paid tributes to four formers members, the Congress demanded suspension of question hour and discussion on the issue of farmer suicides and drought situation.
When Speaker Niranjan Pujari allowed the question hour session to continue, the Congress members rushed to the well of the House and staged demonstration.
“We had requested the Speaker to suspend question hour and give priority to discussion on farmer suicides and drought which is critical. The Speaker did not pay any heed. That’s why we rushed to the middle of House,” said Narasingha Mishra, Leader of Opposition, outside the Assembly.
The Speaker immediately adjourned the House till 3 p.m.
As a mark of protest against the BJD women wing president and sitting MLA Pramila Mallick’s ‘Amar Ladoo’ remark, BJP MLAs were seen distributing ‘ladoos’ in the House. Ms Mallick had reportedly said that the Opposition parties should give ‘Amar Ladoo’ to farmers so that no farmer would die.
The Opposition members continued their attack on the government by staging walk out from the House even as Finance Minister Pradip Amat tabled Supplementary Budget, which was pegged at Rs.11,448 crore, in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, a 10-member inter-departmental team from the Centre is likely visit four western Odisha districts -- Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargarh -- to take stock of the drought situation. The team divided in smaller groups would make field visits on December 3 and 4 and hold talks with top government officials on December 5.
