Odisha Assembly adjourned twice over ruckus by Congress legislators

Odisha Assembly adjourned twice as Congress MLAs demand House Committee to probe crimes against women, protesting government inaction.

The Odisha Assembly was adjourned twice on Wednesday (March 19, 2025) after Congress MLAs created a ruckus demanding the formation of a House Committee to probe crimes against women.

As soon as the House assembled at 10.30 am for Question Hour, the Congress members, holding placards, trooped into the well and demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is also in charge of the Home department.

They raised slogans against the government and accused the Majhi dispensation of neglecting the safety of women, who constitute 50% of the state's population.

They alleged that 54 gang rape cases have taken place during the first eight months of the BJP government and more than 1,600 cases related to crimes against women registered during the period.

When Speaker Surama Padhy's repeated appeals failed to yield any result, she announced adjournment of the proceedings till noon. The Question Hour could take place for only five minutes.

As the House reassembled at noon, the din continued as Congress MLAs protested at the well of the House, refusing to heed the Speaker's requests to return to their seats.

Following this, the Speaker adjourned the House till 4 p.m.