Two Additional Congress MLAs Face Suspension in Odisha Assembly Amid Protests
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Synopsis
On March 26, two Congress MLAs were suspended in Odisha for unruly conduct, bringing the total suspended members to 14. Protests erupted outside the Assembly, leading to clashes with police.
Key Takeaways
- 14 Congress MLAs suspended from Odisha Assembly.
- Protests occurred outside the Assembly.
- Heavy police presence enforced for security.
- MP Saptagiri Ulaka supported suspended MLAs.
- Congress demands inquiry into atrocities against women.
Bhubaneswar, March 26 (NationPress) The Speaker of the Odisha Assembly, Surama Padhy, announced the suspension of two more Congress legislators for a period of seven days due to their disruptive behavior within the House.
Previously, on Tuesday, 12 out of 14 Congress MLAs faced suspension for a week.
With the suspension of senior Congress figures Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena on Wednesday, all 14 MLAs from the party are now suspended from the Assembly.
It is important to note that on March 11, Bahinipati was already suspended for seven days following a confrontation with ruling BJP members.
Proceedings in the Assembly began at 10:30 a.m. without the presence of the 12 suspended Congress MLAs. The leading opposition party, Biju Janata Dal, also staged a walkout in protest against the suspension of their Congress counterparts.
The question hour continued in the absence of opposition members. Later, the two Congress MLAs, Bahinipati and Jena, who had avoided suspension on Tuesday, entered the House ringing gong bells and attempted to disrupt proceedings by making noise. Despite repeated requests from the Speaker to cease their disruptive actions, the two continued their protest.
In response, the Chief Whip of the ruling party raised a motion, leading to the Speaker's decision to suspend both Congress MLAs. The BJD members also left the House, demanding accountability from the Assembly. Subsequently, they honored the statue of Ambedkar with floral tributes on the premises.
Later, turmoil erupted at the main gate of the Assembly, where leaders from both BJD and Congress clashed with police. The BJD MLAs moved towards the Assembly gate while suspended Congress MLAs attempted to breach police barricades. Both parties tried to unlock the Assembly gate from opposite sides, resulting in the BJD MLAs successfully breaking the lock.
MP Saptagiri Ulaka arrived at the Assembly to support his suspended colleagues. He, along with the suspended Congress MLAs, protested at the Assembly gate, leading to a confrontation with security personnel. The situation persisted for about an hour before police effectively cleared Congress supporters from the Assembly's entrance.
Currently, strict barricading and police presence are enforced outside the Assembly gate.
DCP Bhubaneswar Jagmohan Meena stated that approximately 40 platoons of police forces are deployed for security at the Assembly. Notably, Congress MLAs have been consistently protesting inside the well of the House, sounding gong bells, blowing whistles, and using various traditional instruments, demanding the establishment of a House committee to investigate issues concerning atrocities against women. The party plans to stage a gherao of the Assembly on March 27.
