Odisha Assembly disrupted twice amid protests over mango kernel deaths

Bhubaneswar, Nov 26: The Odisha Assembly's Winter Session faced disruptions on its first day as Speaker Surama Padhy had to adjourn the House twice due to protests by Opposition members over a death linked to the consumption of mango kernel gruel.

The first adjournment followed the obituary motion, with the Question Hour briefly starting before being suspended until 12:25 pm. When the session resumed, the Opposition’s protests intensified, leading to another adjournment until 4:00 pm.

Members of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress raised several issues, including governance, public welfare, and accountability. During the Question Hour, BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain raised concerns regarding constitutional safeguards. Protests then escalated, with Congress leaders holding Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi accountable for the deaths linked to mango kernel consumption, demanding his resignation. This led to a heated exchange between the ruling BJP and the Opposition, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session.

At the start of the session, Chief Minister Majhi expressed his condolences for the deaths of former members of the Assembly, and the Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, along with Congress and CPI (M) leaders, also paid their respects. A one-minute silence was observed by all members in honor of the departed souls.