"Unfortunate": BJP's Jayanarayan Mishra on ruckus in Odisha assembly

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 11 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Jayanarayan Mishra on Tuesday termed the ruckus in the Odisha assembly as "unfortunate" saying that the current government is working for the development of the state.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mishra said that an MLA broke the mic of a minister while he was replying to a question in the assembly.
"The most unfortunate thing that happened today (in the assembly) is that an MLA broke the mic of a minister while he was replying to a question in the assembly," BJP MLA said.
On being asked about his statement on the integration of the Kosal region with Odisha, he said, "...What is wrong in demanding development in all the 30 districts of Odisha? Development should not be limited to one or two districts... Odisha did not develop during the government of the BJD. Our government is working for the development of the state..."
On the ruckus in the state assembly today, Odisha Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra said, "This is against the spirit of the constitution. He (Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati) tried to break my microphone. I am very saddened by this behavior..."
However, reacting to the incident, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati alleged that the BJP MLAs held him from his collar.
"Most of the BJP MLAs are criminals... They held me from my collar and I requested the minister to leave me... We will not get scared," Bahinipati told ANI.
Notably, Congress MLAs today staged a protest against the BJP-led Odisha government outside the Legislative Assembly over the alleged rising incidents of crimes against women in the state.
Speaking to ANI, Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said that this was the third day of their protest. She claimed that people in the state are scared to send their daughters out of their houses to schools and colleges due to the rise in "crime against women."
"Today is the third day of our protest. We have been protesting inside and outside the House. The way crime against women has increased across the state, people are scared to send their daughters out of their houses for schools and colleges. The government is trying to divert us from the topic, but we will not let that happen..." Firdous said.
Earlier in the day, Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka brought attention to the alleged dire situation of women's safety in Odisha, filing an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha.
In the adjournment motion, Ulaka presented disturbing statistics: "In the last eight months in my state, Odisha, 54 gang rape cases and 1,600 instances of atrocities against women have been reported. The data of the last 4 years shows a grim reality of law and order and the condition of women in my state; 36,420 women and 8,403 children have gone missing, with 421 women and girls falling victim to trafficking; the crimes against women have increased by 8% in 2024."
On Monday, the Congress MLAs protested in the Odisha Assembly premises against the alleged rise in the incidents of crimes committed against women in the state. Congress state president Bhakta Charan Das said the safety and protection of women had to be ensured by the government. (ANI)