BHUBANESWAR: The winter session of the assembly started on a stormy note with the Opposition Congress members demanding a discussion on the death of over a hundred children in Malkangiri
due to Japanese Encephalitis and other unknown diseases by suspending the question hour.
Leader of the opposition Narasingh Mishra drew the attention of Speaker Niranjan Pujari to the issue as soon as the question hour started and demanded the matter should be discussed by suspensing the question hour.
However, the Speaker rejected the demand of Mishra and decided to continue with the question hour. After the Speaker rejected the demand for discussion, Congress members led by oposition chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati rushed to the well of the house shouting slogans forcing the Speaker to adjoun the house till 3pm.
In the afternoon session also the Speaker had to adjourn the House twice till 4pm. The issue was settled at the all party meeting convened by the Speaker and after the business advisory committee (BAC) fixed time for discussion of the issue.
The leader of the opposition later told mediapersons outside the House that considering the urgency, the issue should have been discussed after cancelling the Question Hour. He said that even as more than 100 children have died due to the disease, the government failed to control the situation. The disease has spread to new areas, he said.
Criticising the disruption of the Assembly, BJD spokesperson Samir Dash, also speaking outside the Assembly, said the issue could have been discussed after the Question Hour.
The government is ready to hold discussion on any issue raised by the opposition, he said.