BJD & Congress MLAs boycott Governor’s address over ‘Odia Asmita’

Bhubaneswar: Turning the tables on the relatively inexperienced Mohan Manjhi-led BJP government, the Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs started the first day of the the first session of the 17th Odisha Assembly on Monday on an offensive by walking out of the House over ‘Odia Asmita’ as soon as Governor Raghubar Das began his address.

The boycott was in protest against the assault on an assistant section officer by Governor’s son Lalit Kumar and police inaction in the matter. The Opposition gave the BJP government a taste of its own poll plank by raising the ‘Odia Asmita’ banner over the issue.

Besides the demand of arrest of the Governor’s son, senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that Das should resign from the post. “We have to safeguard Odia Asmita. The protest will continue till the arrest of his son,” he said, while also raising objection to the Governor’s speech in Hindi.

At its legislative party meeting on Saturday evening, the BJD decided to raise alleged mismanagement in Rath Yatra, the Governor’s son assault case and the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities during the session, which has 27 sitting days.

The Congress, which has been demanding action against the Governor’s son, has also decided to raise the issue inside the House.

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