Political temperatures soared in Bhubaneswar’s assembly hall Monday, with BJD and Congress opposition unleashing coordinated protests that paralyzed the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Triggers included purported mandi procurement frauds plaguing paddy farmers and fervent pushes for Epstein files deliberation.
Question Hour barely began before BJD troops advanced to the House’s center, wielding accusatory banners and belting out regime-bashing slogans before the Speaker. They indicted the BJP administration for farmer betrayal through absent procurement and MSP shortfalls, precipitating widespread crises.
Congress agitators piled on, clamoring for Epstein discourse amid the melee. Though Speaker Surama Padhi implored restraint and seat returns, defiance prevailed. Adjournments came thick and fast, ending the day’s work by late afternoon.
BJD stalwart Devi Shankar Mishra vented to journalists post-session, excoriating the government’s role in the deadlock. “These conditions shame us all,” he remarked. “Governance in democracy must serve the poor, farmers, OBCs, and excluded groups. This lot fails spectacularly at welfare’s core.”
Unmet commitments on 100 free electricity units and MSP uplifts persist, he noted, against a backdrop of surging costs for farming essentials like seeds and fertilizers. “Support for farmers is woefully inadequate,” Mishra stressed.
Anticipating a blockbuster protest in Bhubaneswar Tuesday, BJD vows unrelenting advocacy. The persistent disruptions reveal profound divisions, casting long shadows over Odisha’s legislative efficacy and amplifying farmer voices in the political arena.