Bhubaneswar, March 19: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned several times on Thursday due to opposition BJD-Congress MLAs' disruptions, demanding the resignation of Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling following the death of 12 patients in a fire at SCB Medical College, Cuttack.
The House was initially adjourned till 11.30 am and then again till 1 pm after opposition members from BJD and Congress stormed the well of the House, waving placards and raising slogans. Some even attempted to reach the Speaker's podium. The disruption continued despite an all-party meeting called by Speaker Surama Padhy, forcing another adjournment till 4 pm.
Outside the House, BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik demanded the minister's resignation, highlighting that the deaths occurred due to negligence at the state-run hospital. She criticized the BJP government for failing to take moral responsibility.
In response, BJP members defended the government's actions, noting that four officials had been suspended and an investigation, including a judicial inquiry, was underway. The fire at the Trauma Care ICU on March 16 has sparked widespread outrage in the state.
