Bhubaneswar, March 12 The Odisha Assembly on Thursday witnessed repeated disruptions and was adjourned until 4 pm amid protests by BJD and Congress members over alleged shortages of cooking gas and the black market sale of LPG cylinders.
The issue was raised soon after the House assembled for Question Hour at 10:30 am.
Congress members entered the well of the House, shouting slogans and holding placards demanding the reversal of the recent increase in the price of LPG cylinders. They shouted slogans near the Speaker's podium, disrupting proceedings.
BJD members also supported the issue raised by the Congress and protested the alleged black market sale of cooking gas from their seats.
Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik was present in the House when his party members raised anti-government slogans.
Speaker Surama Padhy urged the members to return to their seats and cooperate in conducting the Question Hour. As the opposition members ignored her appeal, she first adjourned the proceedings until 11:30 am.
When the House reassembled, similar scenes were witnessed, forcing Padhy to adjourn the proceedings until 12:10 pm and later until 4 pm.
The opposition members accused the BJP government of failing to streamline gas supply and check the black market sale of LPG cylinders.
Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik claimed that a 14 kg LPG cylinder was being sold for over Rs 1,500 in the market due to the government's failure to ensure proper distribution of cooking gas.
BJP legislator Irasis Acharya criticised the opposition, alleging that instructions to disrupt the Assembly had come from Delhi.
He condemned the disruption of proceedings and questioned the motives of Congress legislators, accusing the BJD of backing them.
Another BJP MLA, Ashok Mohanty, also attacked the opposition, stating that there was no shortage of LPG in Odisha.
The opposition members also raised slogans demanding the safety of Odia people trapped in the Gulf nations due to the conflict.