Bhubaneswar: Master Canteen Square in Bhubaneswar turned into a battlefield as Odisha Congress legislators clashed with police following the suspension of 12 of their members from the state’s Assembly.
According to reports, Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended 12 Congress legislators for seven days due to alleged misconduct and violation of Assembly norms. This decision came after the Congress leaders staged noisy protests, beating gongs and other traditional musical instruments, to demand a House committee on women’s safety in Odisha. The protests were sparked by the alleged rise in crimes against women under the BJP’s rule in the state over the last nine months.
However, tension rose as legislators spent the night in the assembly chamber before being escorted out by security forces. They alleged that they were denied access to toilets and drinking water when they were inside the Assembly.
Senior leaders, including Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, veteran Congress leaders Narasingha Mishra, Niranjan Patnaik, and Jayadev Jena, attempted to meet with the suspended members but were detained by police, leading to a confrontation between Congress workers and law enforcement officers.
Till the last report came in, the agitating legislators broke the assembly gate and barricades shouting slogans and holding placards. BJD MLAs also joined the protest, breaking the barricades and coming out onto the roads. The protests turned violent, with clashes between the MLAs and police.
