Bhubaneswar: The second day of the ongoing Budget session of Assembly witnessed pandemonium as the members of opposition BJP and Congress created ruckus over paddy procurement issue Friday.
The House adjourned for several times throughout the day.
As soon as the House assembled at 10:30am, the BJP MLAs started raising slogans against the BJD government alleging that the government did not procure paddy from farmers who have incurred huge losses.
Joining BJP, Congress legislators led by party’s chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati rushed to the well of the House over the procurement issues and attempted to climb the speaker’s podium.
The opposition MLAs went to the Speaker’s podium and raised slogans. The saffron party legislators were seen holding banners on the farmers’ issue while Congress members removed the glass shield of the Speaker.
The opposition members were demanding a thorough discussion on paddy procurement issues by suspending all businesses of the day.
Unable to run the House, Speaker SN Patro adjourned the proceedings till 11:30am. As the Opposition members continued their protest inside the House till 11:30am, the House was then adjourned till 4 pm.
The situation remained the same during the post-lunch session too and the House was adjourned for seven times. The Speaker held an all-party meeting for smooth functioning of the House.
After the meeting, Patro directed Cooperation Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain to make a detailed statement on paddy procurement status in the House, Saturday. However, the ruckus continued in the Assembly.
Leader of Opposition PK Naik said, “The Speaker should direct the minister concerned to lift all paddy lying in various mandis and paddy fields. About 20 lakh matric tonne of paddy is yet to be procured by the government in various parts of the state.”
Congress legislature party leader Narasingha Mishra said his party has given an adjournment motion on the issue. If the minister will make a statement, as per rules, the issue cannot be discussed in the House, Mishra said, adding, “If the Speaker will give us time for discussion, we will cooperate in functioning of the House. Otherwise, we will not.”
“The Speaker has asked the minister to make a statement on the paddy procurement issue and there is scope for discussion of the issue on later stage also. Therefore, the Opposition members should not disturb the proceedings, said senior BJD MLA Amar Prasad Satpathy.
PNN