BJP, Cong trade charges over ‘assault’ of suspended MLAs | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Ruling BJP and opposition Congress traded accusations over the handling of the situation after 12 MLAs of the grand old party were suspended from the assembly on Tuesday. The Congress alleged that their suspended members were physically assaulted and forcefully evicted from the assembly premises during the early hours on Wednesday. The govt denied the allegations and instead accused the Congress of conspiring for an assembly session washout and spreading lies.
After they were suspended, the 12 Congress MLAs staged a demonstration inside the well of the House till late in the night. “Our MLAs were beaten up at 2.30 am and thrown on the road while they were peacefully demonstrating for the formation of a House committee to probe crimes against women,” said Ajay Kumar Lallu, Odisha Congress in-charge.
Speaker Surama Padhy suspended the remaining two Congress MLAs — Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena — on Wednesday after they continued to protest inside the assembly, beating cymbals. Former Odisha Congress president Jaydev Jena said there was a “murderous attack” on the agitating legislators on Tuesday night. Veteran Congress leader and former opposition leader Narasingha Mishra claimed that a group of former MLAs, including him, were denied entry into the assembly when they attempted to check on the demonstrators at night.
State govt categorically denied allegations of assault on Congress MLAs, instead accusing the opposition party of orchestrating disruptions to serve their political interests. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, during a news conference, said when the speaker was compelled to take disciplinary action, opposition members refused to leave the premises. He added that the speaker showed considerable restraint by not pursuing further action.
Harichandan claimed that “hired goons” hiding in the Congress legislature party leader’s chamber attacked four watch and ward staff members, necessitating intervention by assembly security. “No MLA was misbehaved with or attacked at any stage. These are baseless allegations,” the minister said. He challenged Congress leaders to provide evidence of any assault on their members, promising to apologise and take appropriate action if proof was presented.
The minister dismissed the Congress demands for a general probe into crimes against women as “illogical” and politically motivated. “These protests are being orchestrated on directions from Delhi. The Congress party’s sole aim is to ensure a complete washout of the assembly session,” Harichandan said.
After they were suspended, the 12 Congress MLAs staged a demonstration inside the well of the House till late in the night. “Our MLAs were beaten up at 2.30 am and thrown on the road while they were peacefully demonstrating for the formation of a House committee to probe crimes against women,” said Ajay Kumar Lallu, Odisha Congress in-charge.
Speaker Surama Padhy suspended the remaining two Congress MLAs — Tara Prasad Bahinipati and Ramesh Jena — on Wednesday after they continued to protest inside the assembly, beating cymbals. Former Odisha Congress president Jaydev Jena said there was a “murderous attack” on the agitating legislators on Tuesday night. Veteran Congress leader and former opposition leader Narasingha Mishra claimed that a group of former MLAs, including him, were denied entry into the assembly when they attempted to check on the demonstrators at night.
State govt categorically denied allegations of assault on Congress MLAs, instead accusing the opposition party of orchestrating disruptions to serve their political interests. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan, during a news conference, said when the speaker was compelled to take disciplinary action, opposition members refused to leave the premises. He added that the speaker showed considerable restraint by not pursuing further action.
Harichandan claimed that “hired goons” hiding in the Congress legislature party leader’s chamber attacked four watch and ward staff members, necessitating intervention by assembly security. “No MLA was misbehaved with or attacked at any stage. These are baseless allegations,” the minister said. He challenged Congress leaders to provide evidence of any assault on their members, promising to apologise and take appropriate action if proof was presented.
The minister dismissed the Congress demands for a general probe into crimes against women as “illogical” and politically motivated. “These protests are being orchestrated on directions from Delhi. The Congress party’s sole aim is to ensure a complete washout of the assembly session,” Harichandan said.
