The opening day of the Odisha Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session witnessed high political drama on Tuesday.Following solemn obituary references, intense protests erupted from Opposition benches, causing severe disruptions and prompting Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik to leave the House.The confrontation escalated quickly as Congress MLAs staged loud demonstrations in the well of the House against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) [MMDR] Amendment Act, alleging that the central law severely curtails the state’s fiscal autonomy and mining revenues. Simultaneously, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members aggressively targeted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration over widespread printing errors found in school textbooks, calling it a major governance failure.BJP Responds to Opposition Charge.Strongly countering the Opposition’s actions, senior BJP MLA Irasis Acharya asserted that the government is fully prepared to address all raised concerns transparently on the floor of the House.“The BJP government is always ready to discuss both issues. We have already accepted Congress’s notice for a structured debate on the MMDR Act. However, instead of participating in the legislative proceedings, they chose to protest outside,” Acharya stated while speaking to reporters.Addressing the controversy over school textbooks, Acharya clarified that rectifications were executed immediately upon identification, noting that 50,000 amended textbooks have already been printed and distributed to students across the state.“Avoiding Debates is a Recurring Pattern”: BJP Targets Naveen Patnaik.Criticising the conduct of the Opposition leadership, Acharya accused senior leaders of deliberately avoiding parliamentary accountability. He specifically called out Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, who exited the Assembly shortly after the disruptions began.“It is not a new thing for him to avoid the House and dodge formal legislative debates,” Acharya remarked, criticising Patnaik’s departure following the chaotic scenes.Questioning the motive behind the walkout and continued protests, the BJP legislator added, “People have sent us to the assembly to discuss their problems. Why are they creating disturbances instead of utilising this democratic platform?”With both the treasury and Opposition benches holding firm positions on mineral rights, educational administration, and state governance, the nine-day Monsoon Session is set to remain highly contentious.
Tense Scenes in Odisha Assembly Over MMDR Act and Textbook Errors; BJP Slams Opposition Walkout
