Congress MLAs Removed from Odisha Assembly in Midnight Operation
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Synopsis
In a late-night operation, security personnel forcibly removed protesting Congress MLAs from the Odisha Assembly. The lawmakers were protesting the suspension of 12 members for alleged unruly behavior, leading to heightened tensions between the Congress party and the ruling BJP government.
Key Takeaways
- Security forces evicted Congress MLAs from Odisha Assembly.
- Protests were against the suspension of 12 members.
- Allegations of suppression of opposition by BJP government.
- Congress plans to escalate protests regarding women's safety.
- This marks a recurrence of suspensions for Congress legislators.
Bhubaneswar, March 26 (NationPress) In a surprising development, security forces forcibly removed protesting Congress MLAs from the Odisha Assembly during the late hours.
The lawmakers were demonstrating against the suspension of 12 members, who faced a seven-day ban for purportedly engaging in disruptive behavior and interfering with the proceedings of the House.
After their removal, the Congress MLAs, accompanied by prominent party figures such as AICC in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu and Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das, initiated a sit-in protest near Master Canteen Square, adjacent to the Congress Bhawan. They accused the ruling BJP government of stifling the opposition's voice.
In a statement to the media, Congress MLA Sagar Charan Das claimed, "We were forcibly evicted by security personnel and police around 2 a.m. We faced assault and disrespect. The BJP government has surpassed all boundaries -- this is tantamount to a murder of democracy."
The Congress MLAs pledged to escalate their protests, asserting that their eviction was a calculated move to silence dissent. The clash between the government and the Congress party has intensified, raising tensions in the state.
In recent days, Congress MLAs have been conducting raucous demonstrations within the Assembly, employing gongs and other traditional instruments, leading to frequent adjournments. Their demands include the establishment of a House committee to probe the rising incidents of atrocities against women.
The party has contended that crimes against women have surged significantly under the BJP government in the past nine months.
On Monday, Deputy Speaker Rajanikant Singh cautioned the Congress legislators to refrain from disrupting House activities. Nevertheless, protests persisted on Tuesday, prompting Speaker Surama Padhy to suspend 12 of the 14 Congress MLAs.
The Congress party has revealed intentions to amplify their protests, including a proposed gherao of the Odisha Assembly concerning women's safety.
Notably, this is not the first instance of Congress legislators facing suspension. On March 11, Speaker Surama Padhy suspended Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati for seven days after a confrontation with BJP members within the House.
