The State Assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes as Congress and BJP members strongly protested absence of all Ministers and many of Treasury Bench members during discussion in the House.

The incident happened when Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra was keeping his views during the Zero Hour at around 12 pm. Tara Prasad Bahinipati stood at the chair and complaint to the Speaker that there was not a single Minister present in the House then. Soon other Congress members and all BJP members rushed into the Well of the House and shouted slogans against the Government.

However, seeing uproar in the House, at least four Ministers, including Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh and many BJD MLAs, who were present in the adjoining lounge, came rushing into the House and took their seats.

Opposition members questioned the Ministers’ seriousness in listening to people centric issues being discussued in the House and taking actions to resolve them. In his response, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro directed Government Chief Whip Pramila Mallick to henceforth ensure that at least a Minister remains present during discussions in the House as the representative of the Government.

“As per norms, at least a Minister has to remain present during discussions. There was no Minister present now. Ensure that a Minister remains present in the House as representative of the Government,” Patro directed the Government Chief Whip.