Orissa opposition protests assembly adjournment

BHUBANESWAR - Orissa’s opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members continued to protest inside the state assembly Sunday against the abrupt adjournment of the winter session 14 days ahead of schedule.

The opposition members had staged a night long protest Saturday.

Orissa Speaker Pradip Amat had abruptly adjourned the assembly session Saturday. The winter session of the assembly commenced Nov 18 and was scheduled to conclude Dec 19.

“We will meet the governor later in the day and request him not to prorogue the assembly as the government took a unilateral decision to shorten the session,” BJP leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo told IANS.

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. However, the opposition members protested the decision and described it as “undemocratic”.

“It is an unfortunate development. It will be remembered as a black day for parliamentary democracy,” leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh said.

The ruling BJD said the decision taken by the speaker was democratic.

“The decision was taken after majority of the members approved it through a voice vote,” state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty said.