Uproar in Odisha Assembly over alleged starvation death

Odisha Assembly today witnessed repeated adjournments following the ruckus created by opposition Congress after a 55-year-old woman allegedly died of starvation in drought-hit Balangir district.
The issue was raised by leader of opposition Narasingh Mishra of Congress as soon as the zero hour began before noon.
"We demand a statement from the revenue and disaster management minister on the starvation death of a woman in drought hit Balangir district," Mishra said.
Stating that right to life is a fundamental right, Mishra alleged that Sua Dei of Gutupalli village under Balangir block of the district died of starvation on November 8. The woman was alone at her house as other members of the family had migrated to other state in search of work due to an acute drought condition in Balangir district, he said.

"I came to know about the incident from media reports and immediately sent a person to verify the allegation. I found that the allegation was true and the woman died due to lack of food. Even a grain was not found in her house," Mishra said.
Justifying his claim, Mishra said through the deceased woman had lifted the rice from PDS outlet as per the records, there was no grain in her house. She was so weak and unable to walk. Besides, she was not getting any pension or allownaces, Mishra said.

He also alleged that the body was buried without conducting postmortem which could have proved that she died of starvation.

As the Speaker did not issue any direction to the
government on the matter, the Congress members rushed to Well of the House and staged agitation. They shouted slogans holding the state government responsible for the starvation death.
While some opposition MLAs sat on the reporters table, Congress whip Taraprasad Bahinipati grabbed the Speaker's mike and attempted to climb on his podium.
Unable to run the House, Speaker Niranjan Pujari first adjourned the house till 12 noon and then till 12.10 pm.
When the House reassembled at 12.10 pm, BJP member K V Singhdeo also demanded a ruling from Speaker seeking a statement from the state government. "The district administration has been trying to cover up the incident. Therefore, the government should give a statement on the matter," Singhdeo said.

Bahinipati said that drought has caused farmers suicide and now people have been dying of starvation. "The government has failed to feed an old woman even as it gives slogan to respect women," Bahinipati said.
Normalcy returned in the House after the Speaker directed the state -government to give a statement on the alleged starvation death case in the House within 24 hours.