Fertilizer crisis stalls Odisha Assembly; House adjourned without business

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (UNI) The Odisha Assembly was adjourned for the day today without transacting any business, as BJD members stormed the well of the House demanding a debate
on the fertiliser crisis, suspending all other proceedings.

The proceedings of the house, both during the pre-lunch and post-lunch sessions, were washed
out due to the protest by the BJD members inside the well.
Both in the pre and post-lunch sessions, the house witnessed furore forcing Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn first at 1034 hours till 1600 hours and again at 1604 hours for the day .

The house was reconvened at 1600 hours,only to be adjourned at 1604 hours for the day till 1030 hours tomorrow due to a protest by the BJD members inside the well over the fertiliser crisis in the state
The ruckus began as soon as the House assembled at 10:30 am for Question Hour on the second day of the monsoon session.

BJD legislators, holding banners and placards, trooped into the well, rushed to the Speaker’s podium, and raised slogans accusing the government of failing to address the fertiliser shortage, which they said had pushed farmers into distress.
Speaker Surama Padhy, despite the uproar, attempted to conduct Question Hour and directed School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond to reply to questions.
As the Minister began, the protest intensified. Repeated appeals by the Speaker for members to return to their seats went unheeded. Congress legislators, meanwhile, stood in support of their adjournment motion on the issue, which had been admitted for discussion but the Speaker adjourned the house at 1034 hours till 1600 hours.

There was no change in the situation when the house reassembled at 1600 hours, as the BJD members trooped into the well of the house and raised slogans reiterating their demand for
debate on the fertiliser crisi,s suspending all other business of the house.
The Congress members who were on their seat, pressed for the no-confidence motion they had moved against the Mohan Charan Majhi-led BJP government yesterday. All 14 Congress MLAs
and the lone CPM member have signed the motion and sought BJD’s support.
Amid the disruption, Speaker Padhy ruled that she would examine the no-confidence motion only when the House was in order.
The Speaker also said she would examine a privilege notice moved by BJP member Padma Lochan Panda against Congress MLAs, accusing them of tarnishing the dignity of the House by making the no-confidence letter viral on social media.
With protests unabated, the Speaker adjourned the Assembly for the day at 4:04 pm, without taking any business during the day.