Bhubaneswar, 25 September (H.S.): Proceedings in the Odisha Legislative Assembly were disrupted for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress members protested against the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, demanding its withdrawal.

Opposition legislators entered the Well of the House, raised slogans and displayed placards opposing the MMDR Act. The protest disrupted Question Hour and other scheduled business. Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi adjourned the House till 4 pm after repeated appeals to the protesting members to return to their seats failed to restore order. The continuing disruption over the MMDR amendment has also been reported in the Assembly during the previous three days.

The House assembled at 10.30 am as scheduled, with Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi presiding over the proceedings. As the process to begin Question Hour was underway, Opposition members began raising slogans over the MMDR Act.

The protesting legislators subsequently left their seats and gathered in the Well of the House. They carried placards with slogans opposing the legislation and demanding its withdrawal.

The BJD and Congress have been jointly raising objections to the amended mining legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session. The issue has emerged as a major point of contention between the Opposition and the government, with the Opposition demanding that the amended law be withdrawn.

Despite the disruption, Deputy Speaker Bhoi called School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond to respond to a question raised by Telkoi MLA Dr Fakir Mohan Naik concerning open schooling.

The minister continued with his response amid the slogan-shouting and protests by Opposition members.

The Deputy Speaker repeatedly appealed to the protesting legislators to return to their respective seats and allow the House to conduct its scheduled business. However, the Opposition members continued their demonstration, resulting in persistent noise and disorder inside the House.

Bhoi subsequently called Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain to respond to another question. The minister began his reply amid the protests, but the Opposition continued raising slogans.

With the situation showing no signs of improving, the Deputy Speaker eventually adjourned the proceedings till 4 pm, bringing the first half of the day's sitting to an early end.

The repeated disruptions have affected Question Hour, Zero Hour and other scheduled legislative business during the current session. Similar scenes were witnessed on the preceding days, when BJD and Congress members entered the Well and raised slogans over the MMDR amendment and other issues.

The Monsoon Session of the Odisha Assembly began on Tuesday. On the opening day, Opposition members protested over the MMDR Act and also demanded the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over the controversy surrounding school textbooks.

The first day's proceedings were disrupted after condolence resolutions were adopted in memory of former legislators and ministers as well as victims of the floods in Nepal. Opposition members subsequently began their demonstrations, leading to repeated adjournments.

The second day of the session also witnessed protests by BJD and Congress members over the amended MMDR Act and alleged errors in school textbooks. Opposition legislators entered the Well carrying placards and raising slogans, following which the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House till 4 pm.

On Thursday, the third consecutive day of disruption, Opposition members again entered the Well and demanded withdrawal of the MMDR Amendment Act.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda