Bhubaneswar, March 27 (PTI) The Odisha Assembly was adjourned till 4 pm on Monday as Congress MLAs observed a ‘black day’ to protest against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha and chaos prevailed in the House.
Dressed in black during question hour, Congress members entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the BJP and the Centre, calling the saffron party the “killer of democracy”.
Congress MLAs also tried to climb the Speaker’s dais.
Speaker B K Arukha adjourned the House till 4 pm due to shouting chaos.
The House was adjourned several times on March 24 as Congress MLAs protested against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Before the start of assembly proceedings on Monday, Congress members held a meeting in CLP president Narasingha Mishra’s chamber.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Sarath Patnaik also attended the meeting.
Patnaik said, “We are observing ‘Black Day’ and will meet Odisha Governor. I have come to the Assembly to invite our MLAs to participate in the protest near the Raj Bhavan.
Asked about BJD leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s “silence” on Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification issue, Patnaik said, “The chief minister is afraid of the BJP because his party leaders are involved in chitfund and mining scams.” They fear the Central Intelligence Agency and the Enforcement Directorate,” he said. Speaking to reporters outside the House, senior Congress leader and MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that democracy has been slaughtered under the BJP rule at the Centre.
“We are observing ‘Black Day’. Party MLAs dressed in black and caps protested against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
Leader of Opposition and BJP legislator Jayanarayan Mishra said, “Lawful action has been taken against Rahul Gandhi.” He questioned how this act can be termed as murder of democracy.
Gandhi, who represents Kerala’s Wayanad parliamentary constituency, was disqualified from the Lok Sabha on March 24, a day after he was convicted in a defamation case by a court in Surat, Gujarat. PTI AAM BDC BDC
