Odisha assembly witnessed pandemonium for the third straight day today forcing adjournment for about an hour as opposition Congress members demonstrated in the well of the house protesting the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies in Posts and Services (For SC and ST) Amendment Bill, 2013.
The Congress MLAs rushed into well of the house as it assembled for the day shouting anti-government slogans terming the BJD government as 'anti-tribal'and demanded immediate withdrawal of the Bill.
They carried banners to the house and displayed them protesting that there is no provision of reservation facilities for ST and SC candidates in contractual jobs in the government sector.
The opposition members also tried to occupy the speaker's podium and had a scuffle with marshals. As the din continued, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House till 11.30 am.
"We will continue agitation inside the house till the government withdraws the amendment bill or incorporates certain provisions to protect the interest of the SCs and STs," said Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.
The treasury bench members said they too did not fully support the Bill.
"We will request the government to make changes in the Bill. However, there is no point in disrupting the proceedings over this matter," senior BJD member Padmanav Behera said.
The Bill, which was introduced yesterday in the House, was referred to Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for fixing the time and date for taking it up.
Normalcy returned when the house reassembled and the speaker allowed a six-hour marathon debate on the state's demand of special category status.
