Fertiliser Crisis Shuts Down Odisha Assembly as BJD Protests Rock House
Fertiliser crisis triggers protest and adjournment in Odisha Assembly.
The Odisha Assembly’s monsoon session was thrown into disarray on Saturday, the third day of proceedings, as opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members staged a vociferous protest over an alleged fertiliser crisis affecting farmers during the kharif season. The uproar, marked by placards and banners decrying farmer distress, led Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the House until Monday, October 22, after proceedings lasted mere minutes in the post-lunch session.
The BJD MLAs, led by deputy leader Prasanna Acharya, stormed the well of the House, demanding a full-fledged discussion on the fertiliser shortage, which they attributed to black marketing and hoarding. The opposition’s agitation began after an obituary reference to former MLA George Tirkey, who passed away on Friday night, but quickly escalated as they pressed for the cancellation of all scheduled business, including Question Hour, to prioritize the crisis. Unable to conduct proceedings, Speaker Padhy adjourned the House first until 4 PM and later until Monday morning.
Post-adjournment, the BJD escalated their protest by leading a delegation to Raj Bhavan to seek Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati’s intervention. Acharya, addressing the media, criticized the BJP government’s inaction, stating, “Farmers are forced to buy fertiliser at higher prices due to black marketing. We sought a day-long discussion in the Assembly, but it was not allowed.” He noted that a prior meeting with the Governor had yielded no resolution.
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BJP MLA Irasish Acharya countered, accusing the BJD and Congress of disrupting proceedings to avoid substantive discussions. He claimed the Speaker had accepted a Congress notice for a fertiliser discussion, which the BJD rejected, and asserted that the BJP was committed to addressing farmers’ issues. “The opposition does not want a discussion on important issues,” he alleged, highlighting the plight of farmers denied adequate fertiliser supplies.
The session also paid tribute to George Tirkey, a four-time MLA from Biramitrapur, remembered for his advocacy for tribals and laborers. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, reflecting on his contemporary, said, “I express my condolences to his family. Tirkey was immensely popular and raised critical issues in the Assembly.” Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam and CPI(M) member Laxman Munda also lauded Tirkey’s legacy. The House observed a minute’s silence, and Tirkey’s body was brought to the Assembly premises, where the Speaker, Chief Minister, deputy CMs KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, and other MLAs paid floral tributes.
The fertiliser crisis, now a flashpoint in Odisha’s political landscape, underscores the deepening rift between the ruling BJP and opposition, with farmers’ struggles at the forefront as the state grapples with agricultural challenges.
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