Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned till Monday due to disruptions caused by the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress.
The protests centred around the ongoing fertiliser crisis affecting farmers during the kharif season. BJD members stormed the well of the House, holding placards and raising slogans against the BJP government, demanding a full-day debate on the issue.
The opposition parties alleged widespread scarcity and black marketing of fertilisers. BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik argued that a brief discussion wouldn’t do justice to the plight of farmers, who make up over 60% of the state’s population. Congress MLA Ashok Das claimed that the BJD’s actions were aimed at protecting the government from a debate on the no-confidence motion.
BJP MLA Irasis Acharya pointed out that an adjournment motion on the fertiliser issue had been accepted, but the BJD’s protest prevented any discussion from taking place.
