The Odisha Assembly was adjourned thrice today as the Opposition Congress members raised an uproar over the soaring prices of petrol and diesel.
As soon as the House assembled for the Question Hour, the Opposition Congress members demanded a discussion on the fuel price hike. The Congress MLAs, under the leadership of party's chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati, rushed to the well of the House and protested against the fuel price hike.
Unable to run the house amid the uproarious scenes, Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat first adjourned the House till 11.30 am, then till 12.50 pm and later till 3 pm.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra blamed both the Centre and the state government for the soaring fuel prices.
A litre of petrol here now costs Rs 73.05, while the rate is Rs 70.24 for diesel.
"While the central excise rate was Rs 3.56 per litre of petrol during the UPA regime, it has been Rs 17.33 per litre now. The Centre's earning from excise duty was now Rs 2,42.691 crore in 20160-17 against Rs 77,982 crore in 2014," Mishra said.
Slamming the BJP-led NDA government, the Congress leader asked: "Would it be wrong to say that NDA was shedding crocodile tears during UPA government."
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