The way Odisha Assembly held its Monsoon Session

'Undeclared Emergency imposed in and outside of Assembly'

Narasingha Mishra

Congress MLAs boycotted the State Assembly protesting the State Government’s dictatorial attitude in running the House without taking the Opposition into confidence. The party MLAs met Governor SC Jamir and questioned about the Speaker’s impartiality. To know about the Congress’ stand on the issue, Hemanta Kumar Pradhan of The Pioneer spoke to Leader of Opposition (Congress) Narasingha Mishra.

How do you view the State Government getting Bills passed in the Assembly in the absence of the Opposition?

Passing important Bills without any discussion or debate has exposed the dictatorial attitude of the Chief Minister. It is contrary to the democratic norms. Even the ruling party members didn’t think it proper to discuss. In the case of the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, after a thorough discussion on a particular clause, that is 2(c), an amendment was unanimously accepted by the House. But surprisingly the next day, on the whims of an individual, which even was on record, the amendment was withdrawn. This is unprecedented and contrary to Rules of Law and the Constitution.

A Speaker is supposed to be impartial. He not only should be impartial, he should also appear to be impartial. In the last Assembly session, it was seen that the Speaker was dancing to the tune of the third floor of the Secretariat (the CM’s Office). 

               

Why did your MLAs stage walkout in the Assembly?

If what we say is not part of the record; if an amendment on legislation was withdrawn at last moment; if we are not allowed to have our say, what was left for us except walking out? Those who ask us why you walked out then tell us what we would have done.

Why did you want amendment in the Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill?

We wanted the Bill’s amendment because the Bill would affect lakhs of poor families who don’t have land to stay and live in Government land during last 60-70 years. This law should not be applied to the landless people and to the homestead place people and to the poorest of the poor of the society.

Passing of the Bill proved that the Government is anti-poor, pro-rich, pro-corporate and pro-industrialist.  

As people’s representatives, shouldn’t your MLAs have taken part in the Assembly proceedings to raise people’s issues?

We participated. We were allowed to participate on some issues, but when what we talked went against the Government and exposed misdeeds of the Government, it was expunged by the Speaker. We participated in the Land Grabbing Bill and could persuade the House to amend it. But exercising extra-Constitutional methods the approval of the Assembly was ignored. 

I tried to discuss about different amendments, but I was not allowed to speak. Who says we didn’t participate? We did participate in the proceedings, but our observations, debates were removed from the proceedings of the House. The Chief Minister and the Speaker left no stone unturned in suppressing the voice of the Opposition by removing the proceedings of what we said and didn’t allow us to talk. We were only asked to hear filthy language that too against a woman member. So, where is democracy? One can say undeclared Emergency has been imposed both inside and outside of the Assembly.   

   

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

The BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik behave irrationally and in an irresponsible and undemocratic manner. The ruling party MLAs were creating disturbance by not participating in the debates. They were totally afraid of facing the Opposition and facing criticism.

How do you view BJD MLAs’ alleged remark ‘Radhe Maa’ on legislator Radharani Panda?

That was most unfortunate and undignified. MLAs of the ruling party instead of protesting were enjoying the language used against a woman member and most unfortunately the Speaker was not protecting the (targeted) member. 

What steps will Congress take protesting the Government’s move in Assembly?

We met the Governor on the issue, and he called the Speaker to discuss about the impasse in Assembly. We will go to the media and then we will go to people.

We will inform them about the State Government’s autocratic attitude in the Assembly and crushing the fate of the poor by passing draconian Bills.  

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