Orissa opposition protests house adjournment

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

The opposition members, who had staged a night long protest Saturday and whole of Sunday, said they will continue their agitation till their demands are not met.

Terming the abrupt adjournment “unconstitutional”, a five-member team of the opposition Sunday met Governor M.C. Bhandare and requested him not to prorogue the winter session of the assembly.

“We requested him not to prorogue the assembly as the speaker took a unilateral decision to shorten the session. We also requested the governor to re-convene the house,” Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh told IANS.

Orissa Speaker Pradip Amat had abruptly adjourned the assembly session Saturday.

The winter session of the assembly commenced Nov 18 instead of the scheduled Dec 19.

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,” Singh said.

Singh said for opposition members the house is very much in session till it is prorogued. The house will do normal business as usual from Monday till Dec 19 because it requires 14 members to have a quorum and the opposition has much more members, he said

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

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