Odisha Assembly Session Adjourned Amid Opposition Mining Protests

The Monsoon Session of the 17th Odisha Legislative Assembly began on Tuesday with immediate disruptions, forcing Speaker Surama Padhy to adjourn the House. While Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi opened the session with condolence resolutions for former legislators and flood victims, proceedings collapsed during Question Hour as members of the Biju Janata Dal and Congress stormed the well of the House with placards.

Opposition parties are demanding the immediate rollback of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, citing potential financial losses to state mining revenue. Other points of contention include errors in state school textbooks and the long-standing Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh. Opposition leaders criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to resolve these issues despite the political alignment between the state and central governments.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated the government is ready to debate any matter concerning state interests and plans to introduce six bills during the nine-day session, which runs until October 3. These bills include a proposed salary hike for legislators. However, the Biju Janata Dal and Congress have threatened further disruptions unless the administration addresses their specific public interest demands.