Bhubaneswar, February 19: The second day of Odisha’s Budget session was marred by chaos, as opposition members from BJD and Congress disrupted proceedings in the Assembly over concerns related to paddy procurement and the grievances of farmers.

During both Question Hour and Zero Hour, opposition legislators stormed into the well of the House, raising slogans and holding posters that criticized the government’s alleged mishandling of mandis and procurement processes. They accused the government of implementing “anti-farmer policies,” with chants like “Stop cuts in procurement” and “Save farmers” echoing through the Assembly.

Despite repeated calls for order from Speaker Surama Padhy, the protests led to multiple adjournments throughout the day.

Amidst the unrest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling addressed questions on behalf of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. However, the opposition's protests persisted, with some members attempting to approach the Speaker’s chair, only to be restrained by security personnel.

Outside the Assembly, BJD MLAs demanded the resignation of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Patra, accusing the government of deliberately neglecting the interests of farmers. Congress MLAs also slammed the government, alleging it had ignored farmers' concerns and failed to fulfill promises, such as the provision of free electricity.

In response, senior BJP leaders argued that the opposition’s disruptive tactics undermined their own cause. They claimed that a constructive debate would have put more pressure on the government.