Upset over the reported denial of the opportunity to present the party’s point of view, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs allegedly threw shoes and dustbins at the Odisha Assembly Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro inside the House on Saturday.
The BJP legislative party took strong exceptions to rejection of their adjournment motion pertaining to massive irregularities in mining sector.
“We all along have been cooperating with the Opposition parties. But they wanted a discussion on a particular issue all of sudden, which cannot be granted immediately. Shoes were hurled at Speaker by senior BJP members — Jai Narayan Mishra and Bishnu Charan Sethi,” Pramilla Mallick, the State government’s chief whip, told reporters outside the Assembly.
Ms. Mallick said Mohan Charan Majhi, the BJP’s chief whip, had also flung a headphone at the Speaker. A dustbin was thrown targeting the Chair, but it was not known who had tossed it, she said.
“The action of Opposition party is unsavoury and condemnable. The Speaker is analysing the footage for taking action,” said Ms. Mallick.
BJP members said the situation had come to such a pass that they did not have any option but to take such a “revolting” action.
“We wanted a detailed discussion on irregularities in the mining sector affecting the State. There was no appropriate reason for rejection of our adjournment motion. In the past, the Chair has not allowed discussion on the sensitive paddy procurement issue. The Leader of the Opposition, who is the second most important person after the Chief Minister in the House, was not allowed to speak,” said Mr. Sethi, Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr. Sethi alleged that important Bills were being passed in the House without any discussion and that it was “unfortunate to see the undemocratic attitude of the Speaker”. He said he had not thrown any shoes.
Mr. Mishra, the BJP MLA from Sambalpur, justified ruckus saying, “Is it the right approach on part of Speaker to run the House? He has shown utter disregard for laws.”
The Speaker should not have allowed the passage of important Bills without discussion, and even the Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak, he said.
Mr. Patro, the Speaker, adjourned the house till 4 p.m. and assured action for the misconduct.
“Disciplinary actions will be taken as per laws. I am examining video footage and photographs to find out who has thrown what objects,” he said.
Commenting on the issue, Narasingha Mishra, veteran Congress leader, said, “When the House is not in order, important Bills should not have been brought for discussion and passage. There was hardly anything audible during the uproarious scene. However, the government passed some Bills hurriedly. It is unfortunate and I condemn it.”