3 BJP MLAs suspended on shoe hurling incident

Bhubaneswar: Three senior BJP MLAs have been suspended from the ongoing budget session for hurling shoes, headphones and papers at Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro’s podium during the House proceedings in the state Assembly on Saturday.

They are opposition chief whip Mohan Charan Majhi, deputy Leader of Opposition Bishnu Charan Sethi and senior member Jayanarayan Mishra.

The Speaker suspended the three leaders after examining the video footage.

The Odisha Assembly on Saturday witnessed ugly scenes as BJP MLAs hurled shoes, headphones and papers at Speaker’s podium during the House proceedings.

The BJP members alleged that the Bills were passed in the House without debate.

Many treasury bench members and Parliamentary Affairs Minister BK Arukha condemned the incident and demanded exemplary action against the BJP members for insulting the chair and the House.

Senior BJD legislator PK Deb demanded suspension of the BJP members.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra said, “What was happened in the House is really unprecedented, undesirable and un-called for. I express my displeasure for the incident.”  

After listening to the members, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings and conveyed an all party meeting to see the video footage of the incident.

After the meeting, government chief whip Pramila Mallick moved a motion for suspension of the three MLAs, which was adopted. 

Meanwhile, BJP members staged a demonstration near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on the Assembly premises to protest the suspension order of the Speaker.