The Odisha Assembly witnessed chaos for the second consecutive day. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling on Tuesday demanded the arrest of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik. The demand followed allegations of indiscipline during the Governor’s address in the House.
Allegations of Rule Breach
Mahaling accused Patnaik of breaching the House rules during Governor Raghubar Das’s address on the opening day of the Budget session. The Minister asserted that appropriate action should be initiated against the LoP for this breach. He stressed that the rules of the House were clear and such indiscipline should not be tolerated.
Support from Sports Minister
Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Suryabanshi Suraj supported Mahaling’s views. He emphasized that under no circumstances should any form of indiscipline be tolerated during the President or Governor’s address. Suraj described the incident as unfortunate and unexpected from a responsible Opposition.
Official Procedure Cited
Suraj stated that the call for action against the Leader of Opposition was not a personal opinion of Mahaling. He highlighted that it was clearly mentioned in Parliamentary procedures that such indiscipline warranted action. “The statements of the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that there is a need to take action against the Leader of Opposition is not something that he has said on his own rather it is clearly mentioned in the Parliament procedures,” Suraj explained.
BJD’s Response
Reacting sharply to the BJP leaders’ statements, BJD MLA Arun Sahoo termed the demand laughable. He criticized the remarks as indicative of a lack of experience and maturity. Sahoo asked the BJP to refrain from making what he described as ridiculous statements. “I have never seen anyone getting arrested in any Assembly or Parliament proceedings. The BJP should refrain from making such statements,” he said.
Sahoo’s Counterpoints
Sahoo argued that he had never seen anyone getting arrested over Assembly or Parliament proceedings. He pointed out that the BJP’s inexperience in power showed in their understanding of the rules. Sahoo also noted that the business advisory committee (BAC) had yet to be constituted for the smooth functioning of the House, further highlighting procedural lapses by the ruling party. He stated, “The BJP is new to power and lacks adequate knowledge about the rules to ensure proper functioning of the Assembly, and that’s why a business advisory committee is yet to be set up by the ruling party.”
Further Reactions
Sahoo reiterated that the BJP should refrain from making such statements and focus on ensuring proper functioning of the Assembly. He emphasized that the BJP’s lack of knowledge about Parliamentary rules was evident in their demands and actions. “The BJP’s lack of experience and understanding of parliamentary procedures is clear. They need to focus on learning the rules and ensuring smooth legislative processes rather than making baseless demands,” Sahoo added.
The Odisha Assembly remains embroiled in controversy. The call for Naveen Patnaik’s arrest over alleged indiscipline during the Governor’s address has heightened tensions. With both sides standing firm, the situation underscores the ongoing political friction in the state’s legislative proceedings. The clash between the BJP and BJD highlights deeper issues within the Assembly, with procedural knowledge and adherence to rules at the forefront of the debate.
(With inputs from agencies)
