Bhubaneswar, March 18 (NationPress) The Odisha Legislative Assembly was engulfed in a significant uproar on Wednesday, highlighted by a symbolic funeral procession led by Opposition parties BJD and Congress MLAs. They are demanding the resignation of Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling following a devastating fire at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which resulted in 12 fatalities.

During the Question Hour, Opposition members, brandishing posters and placards, surged towards the podium of Speaker Surama Padhy, chanting slogans.

They are holding the Health Minister accountable for alleged administrative failures that contributed to the tragic incident at SCB Hospital.

In the midst of the turmoil, Speaker Padhy was compelled to adjourn the House multiple times. Meanwhile, the protesting MLAs from both BJD and Congress held a symbolic funeral procession for the health department, expressing their condemnation of the state government's purported negligence in averting the catastrophic fire at SCB Hospital.

Shouting slogans and carrying banners, the Opposition MLAs marched within the Assembly grounds, insisting on the immediate resignation of Minister Mahaling.

This protest disrupted the Question Hour, with members from both parties seeking an increased compensation of up to ₹1 crore for each victim's family, arguing that the government's current offering of ₹25 lakh is grossly inadequate.

BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik reiterated his call for the Health Minister's resignation, stating, "Each day, more lives are tragically lost due to this incident. In our previous government, a fire at a private hospital led to the Health Minister resigning on moral grounds.

"Now, in a government hospital, where numerous deaths have occurred, the minister remains in position. This is appalling. The government must prioritize improving healthcare and hospital facilities across the state."

Meanwhile, Senior Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati remarked, "These establishments were created to save lives, yet the current state of medical infrastructure in Odisha has rendered hospitals perilous. The public's outcry resonates throughout the state, but the government remains unresponsive. This 'funeral' we are conducting today symbolizes the people's frustration. Our unequivocal demand is for the Health Minister to resign without delay."

BJP MLA Manas Dutta commented that while the incident at SCB Medical College is indeed tragic, it is "deeply inappropriate" to exploit a humanitarian crisis for political gain.

He implored BJD and Congress members to uphold the dignity of the House rather than "capitalize on a tragedy." Other BJP MLAs echoed that demanding the resignation of the Health Minister is not a viable solution to this tragedy.