Bhubaneswar, August 1: Opposition BJP and Congress on Monday stalled the business of Odisha Assembly demanding debate on Chit fund and farmer’s issue.
The house was adjourned for four times till 1600 hours without transacting any business due to Opposition protest.
While the BJP demanded a debate on the Chit fund scam, the Congress insisted on a debate on the farmers’ issue.
The trouble started when the house assembled for the day to take up the question hour. The BJP and Congress members , shouting slogans , trooped into the well of the house and demanded their demand be taken up for discussion.
The BJP had given a notice for discussion on an adjournment motion on chit fund scam and the Congress wanted a discussion on farmers facing problems due to scanty rainfall and nonpayment of crop insurance since 2021.
The Speaker however, rejected the BJP’s notice for adjournment motion stating that the issue could not be taken up for discussion as the matter is sub judice.
He said the BJP’s notice for adjournment motion was rejected as per the rules of the business of the house. The discussion , he said, was disallowed as the issue was not a recent occurrence and it is sub judice.
The Speaker said earlier also the demand for discussion on the issue was raised in the house but
the then Speaker rejected it on November 28, 2014 after consulting with the Advocate General.
Soon the house plunged into a chaotic situation as both BJP and the Congress members
shouted slogans and disrupted the business of the house in support of their demands.
The Speaker repeatedly requested the members to go to their seats and participate in business of
the house. As the members did not relent , the Speaker adjourned the house at 1034hours till 1130 hrs.
There was no change in the situation when the house met after the adjournment.The BJP members continued their slogan shouting inside the well of the house.
The Speaker requested the members to respect the earlier ruling, take their seats and participate in the proceedings of the house as many important issues are to be discussed.
BJP Chief Whip Mohan Majhi alleged that the Speaker is in league with the government and did not allow a discussion on the Chit fund issue to protect the ruling party members involved in the chit fund scam.
As the BJP members continued their agitation ,the Speaker was forced to again adjourn the house at 1135 hrs for 20 minutes and convened an all party meeting to resolve the issue.
The house was subsequently adjourned for another 15 minutes till 1210 and then at 1212hrs till 1600hrs in view of the continued protest by the BJP members.
The house could not transact any business in the pre launch session due to the protest by the opposition members.
