The Odisha Assembly witnessed a tumultuous scene today as Congress MLAs vehemently protested against the Polavaram project, leading to a ruckus that forced Speaker Surma Padhi to adjourn the House till 4 pm. The trouble began when Congress legislators stormed the center of the House, expressing their strong opposition to the Polavaram project. Their vocal protests sparked heated discussions on the adjournment proposal, with the opposition demanding a point of order from the BJP.
The situation took a turn for the worse when the opposition insisted that the phrase “opposition leader arrested” be struck from the records. This demand was met with stiff resistance from the BJP, leading to a war of words between the two parties. As the chaos escalated, the House became increasingly unruly, with MLAs from both sides engaging in a heated argument. The Speaker’s repeated attempts to restore order were met with failure, forcing him to announce the adjournment of the House till 4 pm.
The Polavaram project has been a contentious issue in Odisha, with the opposition alleging that it will have devastating environmental and social consequences. Today’s events highlight the deep-seated divisions within the Assembly on this issue.