Bhubaneswar, March 30 (NationPress) Following the devastating fire incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 12 patients, a significant uproar from opposition parties, namely the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress, continued to disrupt the Odisha Assembly proceedings on Monday.

On Monday, the session commenced with Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida presenting a motion of condolence to honor the late Narayan Sahu, a former Pallahara MLA and ex-Lok Sabha MP from the Deogarh constituency, who passed away on March 27.

This motion was supported by various leaders, including Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik and Congress Legislative Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, who expressed their sympathies to Sahu's family.

The assembly held a moment of silence to commemorate Sahu.

However, as the Question Hour began, opposition members brandished placards and banners near the assembly speaker Surama Padhy’s podium, vocally demanding the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling and accountability for senior officials at SCB Medical College and Hospital due to their supposed negligence that contributed to the tragic fire.

In the midst of the uproar, Speaker Surama Padhy was forced to adjourn the House several times throughout Monday.

An all-party meeting organized by the Speaker yielded no resolution, as disruptions by the opposition persisted within the assembly.

Simultaneously, the opposition parties, who had been protesting inside the assembly since March 17, escalated their demonstrations on Monday by taking their grievances to the streets, staging a large protest at PMG Square in Bhubaneswar.

Leaders and supporters from ten opposition parties, including BJD, Congress, and CPM, participated in this demonstration.

In a statement to the media, senior BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra expressed support for the united protest, denouncing significant lapses in the operation of SCB Medical College and Hospital. He emphasized that various democratic opposition parties united to voice concerns regarding patient safety and the alleged negligence that led to these fatalities.

Mishra criticized senior hospital officials, asserting that those tasked with overseeing medical services were failing in their responsibilities. He also claimed that, despite the seriousness of the situation, the government was protecting key officials rather than holding them accountable.

This senior BJD leader underscored that the protest embodies the collective demand of the opposition for transparency, accountability, and immediate reforms in the healthcare system.