BJD stalls Odisha assembly proceedings

Members of the ruling BJD Monday stalled the Odisha assembly as they noisily protested against a controversial irrigation project that they say will sink some villages in the state.

Soon after the house met, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators entered the house waving banners and raising slogans denouncing the central government's green signal to the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh.

In the process, the house was adjourned until 3 p.m.

The Odisha government fears that the project will submerge parts of Malkangiri district in Odisha.

The BJD members also waved placards alleging delays in granting central assistance to cyclone affected people in Odisha.

"Since parliament session is beginning today, we raised the issues to attract the attention of the union government. We have no intention to disrupt the house," BJD spokesman Sameer Dash told the media.

The opposition alleged that the ruling party had created the disturbances to avoid debating the chit fund scam.

"The BJD created history by disrupting the house proceedings," said Narasingh Mishra, leader of the opposition in the assembly.

He said this was because the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was closing the net vis-a-vis the accused in the chit fund scam in Odisha, including those linked to the BJD.