High drama in house

BHUBANESWAR: The Assembly witnessed repeated adjournments on Thursday with Congress members climbing onto the Speaker’s podium and breaking his mike demanding a discussion on the huge number of vacancies in the posts reserved for Scheduled categories and non-implementation of reservation policy.The Congress and the BJP MLAs had earlier served a notice for an adjournment motion on reservation for ST and SC candidates as per the Orissa Reservation of Vacancies in posts and services (for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Act. Speaker Pradip Amat, however, did not concede their demand during Zero Hour and instead asked Law Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh to move the Orissa Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill. The members stormed into the well shouting slogans. Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh requested the Speaker to take up the adjournment motion first in view of the urgency of the matter. He said the Government Bills could be taken up later and if time does not permit the session could be extended for passing the Bills.Senior Congress Member Dambarudhar Ulaka supported Singh and pleaded for a discussion on the adjournment motion as a large number of posts in the reserved category are lying vacant and the Government is making contractual appointment against regular posts.In his ruling, the Speaker said the adjournment motion will be taken up on Friday as the House is scheduled to discuss two important Bills. ‘’No doubt the adjournment motion is important but let us discuss the Bill,” he said and called a ruling party member to speak on the Bill.As the Speaker went ahead with his announcement, the Opposition members rushed into the well shouting anti-government slogans. While two Congress members climbed the Speaker’s podium, a BJP-supported Independent MLA was seen standing on the Assembly reporters’ table.As the ruckus continued, Amat adjourned the House thrice before the Bill to amend the Orissa Civil Courts Act was passed amid noisy scenes. The Speaker then asked the Cooperation Minister Prafulla Samal to introduce another Bill even as the Opposition members were shouting in the well. As the din continued, he adjourned the House till 3 pm.