Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra strongly condemned the clashes outside the Odisha Vidhan Sabha, criticizing the Odisha Police for acting as a tool of the State government.
Speaking to media, Patra accused the police of obstructing MLAs from entering the Assembly:
“We strongly condemn it, and it shows how democracy is being murdered in Odisha. The Odisha Police has become the handmaiden of the Odisha government and the Odisha Vidhan Sabha and are stopping not only the Odisha BJD and Congress MLAs from entering the Odisha Vidhan Sabha, but it is unprecedented to see the Odisha Vidhan Sabha being manned right now by the Odisha Police against the same legislators who are members of the Odisha Vidhan Sabha.”
Barricades Outside Assembly Sparks Outrage
Patra expressed shock over the barricades placed at the entrance of the Odisha Vidhan Sabha, terming it an “extremely low act.”
“In the Odisha Vidhan Sabha, right at the gate, barricades have been put up stopping the BJD MLAs and the Congress MLAs. This is shocking, and therefore, we strongly condemn it. This is extremely low as far as the parliamentary form of democracy is concerned in Odisha,” he added.
BJD & Congress Accuse BJP of Avoiding Debate
Patra further accused the BJP-led Odisha government of avoiding discussions on key issues in the Assembly.
“The BJP government in Odisha has been running away from discussions on the floor of the Odisha Vidhan Sabha… They want an opposition-mukt Odisha Vidhan Sabha, and that is the reason why the BJP government is failing miserably in governance in Odisha,” he said.
Congress MLA Alleges Political Suppression
Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati also lashed out at the BJP government, alleging that it is suppressing opposition voices by suspending MLAs.
“The BJP government is scared; that is why they keep suspending us. All those who have raped women are with BJP… They have suspended everyone… The protest will keep on taking place,” Bahinipati said.
Mass Suspension of Congress MLAs Triggers Protest
Earlier in the day, 14 Congress MLAs were suspended, leading to massive protests by Congress leaders inside and outside the House. They accused the BJP government of police brutality, claiming that their leaders were beaten up while being removed from the Assembly premises.
The ongoing tensions have intensified the political battle in Odisha, with BJD and Congress uniting against the BJP government over alleged authoritarian tactics and suppression of opposition voices.