Odisha Assly paralysed for second day over demand for hike in MSP for paddy
24 March, Bhubaneswar
The Odisha Assembly was paralysed for the third day Friday as the Opposition Congress and the BJP members created ruckus and stalled the business of the house, leading to series of adjournments over the demand for hike in Minimum Support price for paddy.
The Assembly also witnessed uproarious scenes over the issue on March 22 last forcing the Speaker to adjourn the house repeatedly and finally for the day till today after passing the demand for expenditure on Panchayati raj department amidst din.
As the house met today at 1030 hours, the opposition Congress and the BJP members reiterated their demand for an unanimous resolution to recommend to the Union government to increase the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy.
The Opposition also today opposed the hike in power tariff announced by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC).
The Speaker was forced the adjourn the house thrice as the opposition members trooped into the well of the house and shouted slogans in favour of their demand.
The house was first adjourned at 1031 hrs for an hour and then from 1132 hrs till 1250 hrs and 1250 hrs till 1500 hrs. The house could not take up the question hour and zero hour business due to the protest by the opposition members. For the second day, the functioning of the Assembly was paralysed today over the MSP issue.
On Wednesday last also the House could not transact any business and the demand for expenditure for the Panchayati Raj department was passed in seven minutes in a hurry amidst din.
The trouble began today right from the question hour.
As the house assembled at 1030 hrs the members of the opposition Congress and the BJP rushed to the well created ruckus demanding resolution recommending the Union government to hike the MSP for paddy from the present Rs 1470 to Rs 2800 per quintal.
The situation remained unchanged even after the house reassembled at 1500 hours and the Speaker adjourned repeatedly without transacting any business.
The Speaker convened the Business Advisory Committee to resolve the issue but the Opposition members boycotted it and Leader of Opposition Narashingha Mishra resigned from the Business Advisory Committee.
During the post lunch session, the house adjourned five times from 1500 hours to 1830 hours due to protest by the Opposition.
The demand for expenditure for Rural Development Department was passed without any debate and the house was adjourned for the day.