Bhubaneswar, Mar 26: Tension escalated outside Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar Wednesday morning as Congress workers and leaders took to streets and continued their protest after being removed from the Vidhan Sabha premises last night.

The unrest began Tuesday evening after Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy suspended 12 of the state’s total 14 Congress MLAs, including Legislature Party leader Ramchandra Kadam. The Speaker ordered their suspension for seven days on grounds of alleged misconduct and violation of Assembly norms.

Following the suspension, the party members staged a protest in front of the Assembly, leading to their detention as well. A scuffle broke out between the demonstrators and the police during the process. In response to the escalating situation, Commissionerate of Police has imposed prohibitory orders under BNS 163 around the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

Taking action, police later detained several Congress leaders citing violations under Section 163.

However, the congress MLAs then staged a protest outside the Congress Bhawan at Master Canteen Sqaure.

Worth mentioning, the House has failed to transact business for about seven days due to the protests staged by Opposition Congress and BJD MLAs.

Congress MLAs have been protesting since the beginning of the second phase of the Budget session on March 7 over the issue of rising crime against women and children. Since Friday, Congress MLAs, dressed in black, have been playing gongs and flutes to press their demand for an Assembly committee to probe crimes against women.

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