Odisha assembly session to be a stormy affair

The monsoon session of Odisha assembly beginning on August 18 is likely to be a stormy affair as the opposition Congress and BJP are all set to corner the Naveen Patnaik government over Brahma Paribartan mess and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

The opposition parties have decided to raise the issue of mismanagement during the Nabakalebara festival of Lord Jagannath and his siblings and police highhandedness during a protest where people demanded the arrest of self-proclaimed godman Sarathi Baba in Kendrapada in the first week of August.

"The chief minister is totally responsible for deteriorating law and order in the state. The government is also yet to take any action against the culprits involved in the Nabakalebara fiasco. We will certainly raise the issues in the assembly," said Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati.

Leader of the opposition, Narasingh Mishra, said the law and order had completely deteriorated in the state in recent months and the police have resorted to brutality, be it the Kendrapada or the Keonjhar issues.

In a clash between police and villagers, 20 persons were injured at Belabahali village in Keonjhar district while demanding the shifting of a bridge site.

State BJP president K.V. Singhdeo said the party would raise the issues of law and order, mismanagement in the Brahma Parivartan and impeding drought in the state.

However, the ruling BJD said the party was ready to discuss any issues raised by the opposition on the floor of the house.

"We are ready to face the opposition in the house and discuss every issue. The BJD legislature party meeting would be held on Monday to chalk out our plan for the ensuing session," said BJD MLA Rohit Pujari.