Bhubaneswar: Odisha assembly’s monsoon session got off to a stormy start on Tuesday, with opposition protests over the MMDR Act amendments and alleged errors in school textbooks disrupting proceedings and virtually washing out the opening day’s business.After the House adopted condolence resolutions mourning former ministers Damburu Majhi and Susanta Singh, former MLAs Satya Bhusan Sahu, Ramamurti Gamango, Ayub Khan and Shibaji Majhi, as well as victims of the recent floods in Nepal, the atmosphere quickly turned turbulent.Congress members rushed to the well of the House demanding withdrawal of the amended MMDR Act, while BJD legislators raised the issue of alleged mistakes in school textbooks. Amid noisy scenes, slogan-shouting and placard-waving by opposition members, speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House from 11.36 am till 1.10 pm.When the assembly reassembled, disruptions continued, forcing another adjournment till 4 pm. The stalemate persisted through the afternoon, leaving little room for legislative business. The House was later adjourned for the day.Meanwhile, BJD legislators staged a demonstration at Lower PMG, demanding action over the textbook controversy. The opposition remained unrelenting throughout the day, ensuring a washout of most scheduled proceedings on the opening day of the session.BJP MLA Irasis Acharya said the govt was prepared to discuss both issues on the floor of the House and accused the opposition of avoiding debate. “We have already accepted Congress’s notice for a discussion on the MMDR Act. Instead of participating in the proceedings, they chose to stage protests,” Acharya said.On the controversy over school textbooks, he said corrective measures were underway and around 50,000 revised books had already been distributed to students. “People have sent us to the assembly to discuss their problems. Why create disturbances instead of using the Vidhan Sabha for discussion?” he said.Following the adjournment, BJD MLAs marched from the Assembly premises to Lower PMG, where Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) have launched an indefinite day-and-night agitation over the textbook issue.Addressing party workers at the protest site, senior BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo accused the govt of jeopardising students’ future and demanded accountability for the alleged errors in school textbooks.Congress, meanwhile, kept up its attack on the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Led by senior MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, party members trooped into the well of the House carrying placards and demanding repeal of the legislation. “The MMDR Act will adversely affect Odisha’s economy and India’s federal structure. It must be withdrawn,” said Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam.
