In a strong show of dissent, Youth Congress workers staged a protest in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday against the suspension of 12 Congress MLAs from the Odisha Legislative Assembly. The suspension, ordered by Speaker Surama Padhy, was based on charges of “indiscipline, disrespecting the Chair, and violating rules” as the MLAs protested inside the well of the assembly.
The demonstration took place in front of the Congress Bhavan, with senior Congress leaders, including Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das and state in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, joining the agitation. They alleged that they were not permitted to enter the assembly to meet the suspended legislators.
Speaking to reporters, Odisha Congress President Bhakta Charan Das criticized the restrictions, stating that former MLAs have the right to access the assembly lobby at any time. He dismissed any justification for barring them and questioned the government’s actions.
“Ex-MLAs can go till the lobby of the assembly at any time. We are not criminals… There should be some reason to stop us. Shouldn’t we be allowed to meet our MLAs?” Das said.
Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu also condemned the suspensions, calling them undemocratic. He accused the government of suppressing voices seeking accountability on crucial issues like women’s safety.
“When did talking about women’s safety become a crime? More than 64,000 women are missing in Odisha, and gang rapes occur daily. If elected MLAs demand answers, what is the government afraid of? Suspending 12 of our MLAs is undemocratic. We will not remain silent—we will gherao the assembly and protest on March 27,” Lallu declared.
Following their suspension, the 12 Congress MLAs refused to leave the assembly and staged a sit-in protest, spending the night in the well of the house as a mark of defiance. Their protest underscored their demand for justice and reinstatement.
With tensions escalating, the Odisha Congress has vowed to intensify its protests, setting the stage for a heated political confrontation in the state.
