Daijiworld Media Network - Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Mar 7: The first day of the second phase of Odisha’s budget session witnessed uproar on Friday as opposition legislators from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress staged aggressive protests over alleged disrespect to former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and rising incidents of violence against women in the state.

As soon as the Assembly proceedings began, opposition members stormed the well, raising slogans and waving placards. Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the House multiple times before finally suspending proceedings until Monday.

Meanwhile, Congress and BJD leaders took their protests outside the Assembly, demonstrating under the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Biju Patnaik. Their demands included the immediate rollback of the BJP government's decision to shift Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5—the birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik—to April 24.

BJD leaders accused the government of attempting to erase the legacy of Biju Babu, who played a crucial role in strengthening Odisha’s Panchayati Raj system. The party also condemned a recent government notification referring to Biju Patnaik by his full name, Bijayananda Patnaik, instead of his widely recognized name, ‘Biju Babu.’

Taking their protest further, BJD leaders marched to Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, urging him to intervene and restore the original date of Panchayati Raj Diwas.

Opposition leaders maintained that Biju Patnaik’s contributions transcend party lines and must be upheld, regardless of which government is in power. They warned of intensified protests if the BJP government does not reverse its decision.

With tensions running high, all eyes are now on the state government’s response to the escalating political storm.