Odisha Assembly: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Feb 19: The Odisha Assembly witnessed chaos on Wednesday as opposition members from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress disrupted proceedings over multiple issues, including the restructuring of Mission Shakti. The uproar led to the adjournment of the House till 4 PM.
As soon as the session commenced, opposition legislators raised slogans and created ruckus, disrupting the Question Hour. Speaker Surama Padhy repeatedly urged the members to maintain order, but her appeals went unheeded. The opposition MLAs then stormed into the well of the House, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government of attempting to weaken the Mission Shakti initiative through restructuring.
The protesting MLAs alleged that the proposed changes would undermine the objective of empowering women and affect the livelihoods of millions of Mission Shakti members across the state. They demanded clarity on the restructuring process and its impact on the women’s self-help groups (SHGs) associated with the initiative.
With the commotion continuing unabated, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the proceedings till the afternoon. The disruption highlights the intensifying political battle over the future of Mission Shakti, a key women’s empowerment program in Odisha.
