BJD-Cong clash in assembly

Trouble broke out during zero hour after BJD MLA Pradeep Maharathy drew the Chair's attention to Railways slashing allocation for the state.

Opposition Congress members rushed to the Well of the house shouting anti-government slogans and alleged that farmers were manhandled by the police yesterday while staging demonstration in front of the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

At this the BJD MLAs too were on their feet to oppose the charge and in the din that followed nothing could be heard.

The situation turned volatile when Maharathy too rushed to the Well followed by Pradip Panigrahi, Rajendra Das and other BJD MLAs and had a mild tussle with the Congress legislators.

In view of the heated situation, Speaker Pradip Amat adjourned the house first till 12.30 PM and then again till 3 PM. When the house reassembled at 3 PM, similar situation prevailed and was adjourned for the day.

Unable to raise the railway budget issue due to the din in the House, BJD MLAs later sat on a dharna near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the assembly premises. MORE