Bhubaneswar: The winter session of the Odisha Assembly was on Friday adjourned sine die by Speaker S. N. Patro 20 days ahead of its scheduled date amidst protest by the Opposition BJP and Congress members. The opposition members sat on a dharna, skipped the valedictory business and walked out in protest after Speaker S. N. Patro adjourned the house sine die.
Government Chief whip Pramila Mallik moved a motion stating that the house has no more business and should be adjourned sine die in view of the Covid pandemic. The motion just after the CAG report was tabled in the house and the house approved the Appropriation bill amidst ruckus by the opposition Congress and BJP members over the Mamita Meher murder case.
The winter session of the Odisha Assembly which commenced on December 1 last was originally scheduled to have 26 sittings and to continue till December 31. But the session was abruptly adjourned today just after nine sittings. The winter session was completely washed out as the house did not function even for a single day. Except for the obituary reference, laying off some papers and reports, statement of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Mamita Meher murder case and passing bills, the house did not transact any other business.
Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi and senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra said they would take the issue to the people and would organize sittings of the Assembly in every village to expose the government. Mr Majhi said they have been demanding the government to dismiss Minister of state for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra for his alleged involvement in the murder of school teacher Mamita Meher and order a CBI inquiry into the case in the house.
But the Chief Minister did not listen to any of their demands. Had the Chief Minister conceded to their demands many important issues could have been discussed in the house, the BJP MLA said.
Like previous days, the house could not function normally on Friday. As soon as the house assembled at 1030hrs today, the opposition BJP and the Congress members carrying placards, banners and shouting slogans, stormed into the well of the house reiterating their demands to dismiss the minister of state for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra in the Mamita Meher murder case. The BJP members condemned the use of excessive police force on their supporters during the Assembly gherao on Thursday. The agitating members threw placards and banners at the Speaker’s podium during their protest.
As the house plunged into chaos, Speaker S. N. Patro adjourned the house at 1030 hrs to 1130 hours and again from 1131hrs to 1201 hours. Speaker Patro convened an all-party meeting to find out a solution to resolve the deadlock but was forced to adjourn the house at 1201hrs till 1600hrs without transacting any business as the meeting remained inconclusive. When the house reassembled at 1600hrs after the adjournment the opposition members again trooped into the well-carrying posters, shouting slogans and beating bells and gongs.
Amidst the chaotic situation, the CAG report was laid. The Speaker then adjourned the house from 1602 hours to 1650. The appropriation bill was passed amid protest by the opposition members after the house met at 1650 hours.
The house was then adjourned sine die by the Speaker after a motion in this regard was moved by government chief whip Pramila Mallick.
