Pandemonium in Odisha Assembly over women’s safety and reservation demands

Bhubaneswar, March 24: The Odisha Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Monday as it reconvened after a two-day break, with opposition and ruling party members storming the Well of the House over various issues.

The uproar began soon after an obituary reference to late MLA Debendra Sharma, who passed away on Friday. As Speaker Surama Padhy invited Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling to respond to a question, Congress and BJD members started raising slogans inside the House.

Congress MLAs played gongs, cymbals, and flutes, demanding a House Committee inquiry into crimes against women over the last nine months. Meanwhile, BJD legislators held placards, pressing for proportionate reservation for ST, SC, and OBC students in technical education and 27% OBC reservation in jobs and education.

Amid the ruckus, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings from 10:45 AM to 12:09 PM. Later, BJD members staged a sit-in near Biju Patnaik’s statue, while Congress MLAs sat on a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue.

With disruptions continuing, Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi adjourned the House twice, from 12:09 PM to 12:19 PM and again till 1 PM, calling for an all-party meeting to resolve the deadlock. However, as noisy protests persisted during Question Hour, Sanatan Bijuli, who replaced the Deputy Speaker, adjourned the House till 4 PM.