Bhubaneswar, March 7: The second phase of the Odisha Assembly’s budget session began on a stormy note today, with the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress disrupting proceedings over issues related to former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and women’s safety.

As soon as the session commenced, members of both parties raised slogans, stalling the question hour. The protest intensified when BJD and Congress legislators stormed into the well of the House. Amid the chaos, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati and BJD’s Adhiraj Panigrahy attempted to climb the Speaker’s podium and damage the microphone.

With the House in disarray, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the session till 12 noon. Meanwhile, BJD members staged a dharna near the Biju Patnaik statue, while Congress held a separate demonstration near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on the Assembly premises.

When the Assembly reconvened at noon, protests continued, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session again until 4 PM.

BJD MLA Arun Sahoo criticized the government for altering Panchayati Raj Divas from March 5, Biju Patnaik’s birth anniversary, to March 24. “Odisha’s people, especially Biju lovers, will not tolerate such disrespect. The government must restore March 5 as Panchayati Raj Divas,” he asserted.

Responding to the allegations, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Naik countered, stating that BJD had itself sidelined Biju Patnaik during the last elections by removing his photos from party posters.

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