Odisha Assembly adjourned thrice as BJP MLAs protest leader's

Repeated adjournments marred the proceedings of the Odisha Assembly today as opposition BJP members protested the arrest of party leader Jaynarayan Mishra in connection with the Banbira firing incident in which a BJD worker was killed.

As soon as the Question Hour began, around half a dozen BJP legislators rushed to the well of the House while Co-operation, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister S N Patro was replying to a query.

The BJP members shouted slogans near Speaker Pradip Kumar Amats podium and some of them also attempted to climb on the desk.

Amid the pandemonium, the Speaker adjourned the House initially till 11.30 am, later till 12.10 pm and further till 3 pm, as similar scenes prevailed every time the House re-assembled.

Police had arrested BJP leader and former minister Jayanarayan Mishra in connection with the Banabira firing case on February 21.

One person was killed and three others were injured in the firing incident that took place just ahead of the by-polls to the Bijepur Assembly segment in Bargarh district on February 24.

Mishra is among eight persons arrested in the case so far.

The ruling BJD is using the police department to arrest its strong political opponents. We today demanded a CBI probe into the Banabira firing incident. Jayanarayan Mishra has no involvement in the case, BJP MLA Pradip Purohit told reporters outside the House.

BJD MLA Sanjay Dasburma, however, dismissed the allegation and claimed that the BJD never intervened in police investigation.

We had today expected cooperation from all members of the opposition parties over discussion on farmers' issues. However, the way the BJP members created pandemonium over an isolated case is not acceptable at all," Dasburma said.

Earlier, Speaker Amat had accepted an adjournment motion notice moved by the Congress over farmers' issues.

"It is unfortunate that the House could not debate on all-important farmers' issue. The BJP is behaving in a manner which can be dubbed as anti-farmer," said leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra of the Congress.