Orissa assembly winter session ends abruptly

BHUBANESWAR - Orissa Speaker Pradip Amat abruptly adjourned the state assembly session Saturday, 14 days short of its scheduled duration.

The speaker declared the house adjourned sine die after ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief whip Rabi Narayan Pani moved a motion that there was no pending official business and the house should be adjourned. The motion was supported by ruling party members.

The opposition members, however, protested the decision and described it as “undemocratic”. They staged a protest near the speaker’s podium even after the adjournment.

They said they will continue to hold protests in the house.

“It is an unfortunate development. It is a Black day for parliamentary democracy,” Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said.

The winter session of the assembly commenced Nov 18 and was scheduled to conclude Dec 19.