Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (Representative) The Odisha Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Friday as Opposition BJD and Congress members rushed to the Speaker’s podium, tried to snatch the microphone, and raised slogans inside the well of the House, demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister over the Chikiti Hooch tragedy. As the House descended into chaos, Speaker Surma Padhi adjourned the session at 10:40 hours until 11:30 hours.The Odisha Assembly has been experiencing disruptions by the Opposition BJD and Congress members for the last four consecutive days, paralyzing the proceedings until 4 p.m. each day.For the past two days, the Opposition has been raising the Chikiti Hooch tragedy issue right from the question hour, holding the BJP government responsible for the incident. Both the BJD and the Congress have demanded the resignation of Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, citing moral responsibility for the Hooch tragedy, which has claimed three lives so far while several others are undergoing treatment in the hospital.As the House convened for the day at 10:30 hours to take up the question hour, aggrieved BJD and Congress members, shouting slogans against the government, stormed into the well of the House and rushed to the Speaker’s podium.They intensified their slogan-shouting when the Speaker, ignoring their protest, proceeded with the question hour and asked the Minister to respond.
The Opposition attempted to disrupt the proceedings as BJD members Romancha Ranjan Biswal, Madhav Dhada, and Jogesh Singh climbed up to the Speaker’s podium and tried to snatch the microphone but were prevented by the Assembly security staff. Some opposition members also attempted to rush to the Speaker’s podium to obstruct the proceedings but were also stopped by the Assembly security.Undeterred by the unruly behavior of the Opposition members, the Speaker tried to continue the question hour and appealed to the agitating members to return to their seats and cooperate with the House proceedings, but her efforts were in vain. The Speaker requested the Opposition members to raise their issues during the Zero Hour, but they remained adamant in their demand for the Excise Minister’s resignation and continued their slogans inside the well. Unable to restore order, the Speaker finally adjourned the House at 10:40 hours until 11:30 hours. The stalemate, which had persisted for four consecutive days during the pre-lunch session, eventually subsided, and the functioning of the Assembly returned to normalcy with the Opposition BJD and Congress members participating in the Zero Hour and the adjournment motion when the House reconvened at 11:30 A.M. after the adjournment. On Thursday, Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan announced a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) probe into the Chikiti Hooch tragedy. The state government had already transferred the Berhampur Excise Superintendent and placed two excise officials under suspension following the Hooch tragedy.