The winter session of Odisha Assembly today began on a turbulent note with Opposition Congress staging demonstration in the well demanding a discussion on farmer suicides which led to adjournment of the House till 3 PM.
The opposition BJP members also distributed "Ladoo" in the House as a mark of protest to the ruling BJD women wing president and sitting MLA Pramila Malick's "Amar Ladoo" remark. Malick had earlier given a statement suggesting opposition parties to give "Amar Ladoo" to farmers so that none of them would die.
Soon after the House assembled, tributes were paid to the four former members of the Assembly. The House also observed a one-minute silent prayer as per the tradition.
Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra after paying his party's tribute to the former MLAs, also made an obituary reference to the above 100 farmers who died due to drought situation in the state. The leader of opposition also paid tribute to some of the security personnel who died recently.
"What is wrong in paying tribute to the farmers who died in the calamity. Are they (farmers) not contributing to the nation?," Mishra asked outside the House and justified his act of paying tribute to the farmers and some security personnel.
The Congress members rushed to the well of the House and displayed banners as Speaker Niranjan Pujari went to the question hour session. Earlier, Mishra through a motion, had requested the Speaker for a special discussion on the farmers' death issue describing it as "most sensitive matter" in the state.
However, Pujari allowed the question hour after stating that he has received the notice, but moved to the question hour. Protesting the Seaker's decision, Congress MLAs rushed to the well and demanded a discussion on farmers' suicide after canceling all business in the House.
