BJD MLAs Try To Climb Speaker’s Podium Amid Demand For Odisha Excise Min Scalp

Bhubaneswar: Pandemonium prevailed on the fourth day of 2nd phase of the Budget Session of Odisha Assembly on Friday as BJD and Congress MLAs created ruckus over Ganjam hooch tragedy and demanded resignation of state Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan.

The Opposition members trooped into the well, raising slogans against the BJP government, as soon as the House assembled this morning. BJD MLAs Madhaba Dhada and Jogesh Singh also attempted to climb atop the Speaker’s podium, forcing the latter to adjourn the House till 11.30 am.

Woman MLAs also allegedly tried to obstruct the path of the Speaker.

“The government is claiming a lot of things including action against liquor mafia. The current dispensation can do little except changing names of previous government’s schemes,” said Opposition whip Pramila Mallik while alleging a nexus between the incumbent government and the mafias.

Stating that hooch-related deaths are on the rise in the state, Congress CLP leader Ram Chandra Kadam said that the Excise Minister should resign on moral grounds.

“The government has failed to answer questions on illicit liquor trade which is why we were forced to stage a demonstration. This issue is not limited to one area but affects the entire state. Our protest will continue,” said Congress MLA Pabitra Saunta.

BJP MLA Purna Sethi slammed Opposition over disruptions since beginning of the session. “This is nothing but indiscipline. They have no interest in taking up people’s grievances. Their only intention is to stall the proceedings. They continued creating ruckus despite the government agreeing to their demand for an RDC probe into the hooch tragedy,” he said.

Two people have died while 12 others are undergoing treatment at MKCG medical college and hospital in Berhampur after allegedly consuming spurious country liquor on Monday evening.

On Thursday, the Excise Minister announced a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) probe into the Chikiti incident. “The probe will be initiated in a day or two. A formal notification in this regard will be issued by government soon. The state government will strongly crackdown on illicit liquor trade,” he said.