Interview of Odisha BJP legislature party leader Basanta Panda

'BJD’s arrogance cannot be tolerated'

Basanta Panda

The BJP MLAs along with their Congress counterparts boycotted the State Assembly protesting the Government’s autocratic attitude in the House. The BJP got infuriated and walked out of the House subsequently when the Government moved to pass the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill by ignoring the Opposition’s demand to hold discussion on the Bills. To know about details of the BJP’s stand on the issues, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to BJP Legislature Party Leader Basanta Panda. 

How do you feel about the Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

The State Government has arbitrarily passed several Bills, including the Police Bill and the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, without the presence of the Opposition. It is undemocratic and illegal. The Government is repressing the voice of the Opposition as the ruling party has a brute majority in the Assembly.

We had demanded before the Speaker for a detailed discussion in the House on the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill as the present form of the Bill would affect eight lakh poor families, which have been staying on Government land without a RoR for the last 60 to 100 years. We didn’t protest the Bill but demanded for an amendment to it keeping poor people’s interest in view. The Speaker didn’t allow it and the Government passed it. It proved that the Government is anti-poor.

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

After the Opposition’s repeated demand, the Speaker had accepted the proposal of amendment to the Land Grabbing Bill. But on the very next day, the Speaker denied any amendment to the Bill. It was not only an undemocratic and unconstitutional decision but also a severe blow to poor people of Odisha. Later, the Government passed the Police Bill arbitrarily which hurt us. It was rare in the history of the Assembly. We couldn’t wait to see the killing of democracy anymore and preferred for a walkout.

Did you stage walkout and boycott Assembly as Congress did it?

No not at all. We had a meeting with our MLAs regarding the issue before the Assembly met on August 28. When the Speaker didn’t allow us for discussion, we came out of the House and staged a dharna in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Assembly premises.

As people’s representatives your MLAs should take part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues, but you just quit the House. Don’t you feel sad about it?

See, the Government was not interested in any deliberation or discussion on popular issues fearing the Opposition would attack it on the issues like Prakash Mishra case, Brahma fiasco and Sarathi Baba scandal. With our support the House was able to run smoothly for three days. We wanted to run the House to raise issues relating to common people, but the Speaker deleted our proposals for discussions from his list. The Government is doing monopoly in the House as it has a huge majority.    

What’s your opinion about ruling BJD MLAs’ behavior in the Assembly?

The Government does not give respect to democracy and ruling party MLAs and Ministers are behaving like they are kings. Their arrogance would not last long as people cannot tolerate it.

What do you think about BJD MLAs’ alleged ‘Radhe Maa’ remark on legislator Radharani Panda?

We strongly condemn the remark. When she was raising people’s issues, a BJD MLA called her “Radhe Maa” which was disrespect for a woman. Some people don’t know how to behave with women in a dignified way. We can’t progress if we fail to respect women. We have lodged a written complaint with the Speaker to take necessary step in the matter.

You have complained that Speaker doesn’t pay heed to your demands. How do you think he will take strong step in this case?

It is a different case. This case is related to a woman, and we hope the Speaker will look into the matter in an impartial way and give justice to Radharani.

What steps will the BJP take to protest the Government’s moves in Assembly?

We will definitely go to people and make them understand about the Government’s double standard and dictatorship. We will sensitise people about the Government’s faults in the Prakash Mishra case, death of children in the Sishu Bhawan and other health issues, farmer issues and the Gajbhiye and Sarathi Baba scandals, police highhandedness in Kendrapada and Belbahali and the Nuapada youth murder by SOG jawans. We will start the campaigns very soon.  

The interview was published on September 3, 2015 in The Pioneer