**Bhubaneswar:** Protesting vehemently the alleged disrespect to women by the police at Chief Minister’s rally in Sundargarh on Sunday and demanding apology from the Chief Minister, the Opposition Congress and BJP members on Monday created ruckus soon after the Question Hour began in the ongoing Winter Session of Odisha Assembly.
The irate lawmakers alleged that the police personnel showed disregard to the some women participants by forcing them to take off their black colour stawls, ‘dupattas’ and shawls.
As the House assembled for the day, Congress and BJP members rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans and demanding apology from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the uncalled-for incident.
Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati stood on a chair of the Assembly reporters’ desk and tried to snatch Speaker Niranjan Pujari’s microphone.
Following the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly till 3 pm.
“On the pre-text of providing security to the CM, cops have harassed the women participants at a rally. This is really painful and unfortunate. The Chief Minister should apologise for it”, Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said.
Notably, the police personnel deployed in charge of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s rally at Mangaspur in Sundargarh district on Sunday were seen forcing women participants to take off their black colour stawls, shawls, ‘dupattas’ before entering the meeting venue.
As many of the women were visibly hurt and protested, women constables were seen pushing and shoving them in a bid to ensure no one uses garments as black flags or use them as a mean to oppose the Chief Minister.