Bhubaneswar, Sep 24: The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Thursday as Opposition members from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress disrupted proceedings over the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, forcing the House to be adjourned till 4 pm.
The commotion began soon after Question Hour commenced at 10.30 am, with Opposition legislators raising slogans and entering the Well of the House. Congress MLAs staged a symbolic protest by wearing posters around their necks and demanding withdrawal of the amended MMDR Act. They also raised slogans near the Speaker’s podium.
BJD legislators joined the protest inside the House and demanded rollback of the amendments. The Opposition members continued their demonstrations despite appeals from Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi to return to their seats and allow the scheduled proceedings to continue.
The protests also spilled outside the House, with Congress members demonstrating near the Mahatma Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises while reiterating their demand for withdrawal of the amended legislation. BJD legislators also staged a separate demonstration concerning the MMDR issue.
Amid the continued slogan-shouting and protests, normal legislative business could not proceed smoothly. With efforts to restore order proving unsuccessful, Deputy Speaker Bhoi adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm.
The MMDR Amendment Act has emerged as a major point of contention during the ongoing Monsoon Session, with Opposition parties continuing to press their demand for withdrawal of the amendments through protests inside and outside the Assembly. The disruption was reported as the third consecutive day of protests during the session.
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