A group of SC/ST MLAs, staging a demonstration outside the Chief Minister's chamber in Odisha Assembly premises, shifted its protest to the well of the House after they were allegedly evicted forcefully by security personnel.
The SC/ST lawmakers belonging to Congress and BJP who had been on hunger strike since yesterday, sat on dharna near Speaker's podium in the well of the House demanding implementation of Odisha Reservation of Vacancies (ORV) Act.
The issue was raised in the Assembly by Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra, who condemned the action of the securitymen on the legislators.
"Odisha today made history by using force on MLAs who were sitting on dharna in peaceful and democratic manner. We condemn it," Mishra said.
Mishra said that the agitating Dalit and tribal MLAs have meanwhile called off the hunger strike in deference to the request made by him and BJP leader Basant Panda.
"We suggested the MLAs to call off the hunger strike as it will have no result as the state government does not respond to any matter. We suggested them to sit on dharna in the House instead of sitting in front of the Speaker's chamber," Mishra said.
The agitating MLAs, who have been demanding 38 per cent reservation of seats for SC and ST students in medical and engineering colleges, shouted slogans against the government and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the House when the government passed the demand for the housing and urban development department.
Earlier, security personnel evicted agitating opposition SC/ST MLAs allegedly by using force when the striking lawmakers tried to obstruct the chief minister from entering his chamber in the morning. The ruling BJD MLAs threw a protective ring around the chief minister and ensured Patnaik's safe entry.
(Reopens CAL 4)
The security personnel lifted the agitating MLAs from the dharna site and put restrictions on the entry of television cameras and media persons into the Assembly building.
"The security personnel in plain clothes lifted me forcibly and in the process I sustained injury on head. This is not acceptable," senior Congress MLA Bhujabal Majhi said.
Earlier, Speaker Niranjan Pujari appealed to the striking legislators to withdraw their agitation. Sitting on dharna on the Assembly premises contravened rules, Pujari had said.
The agitating MLAs said though the state government has decided in principle to reserve 38 per cent seats for SC/ST students, it is not being implemented in medical and enginering colleges.
"Resorting to hunger strike in the Assembly premises is illegal. The protesting legislators have been evicted as per law," government chief whip Anata Das told reporters.
Meanwhile, the agitating MLAs said that they would continue to sit on dharna in the well of the Assembly till their demands are not fulfilled.
