The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed significant disruption and a symbolic protest on Thursday after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator made controversial remarks concerning Mahatma Gandhi. The incident has ignited a fresh political firestorm in the state.
Controversial Remarks During Budget Debate
The controversy erupted when BJP MLA from Nilgiri, Santosh Khatua, made statements about Mahatma Gandhi while participating in a debate on the supplementary budget. Although the exact nature of his comments was not officially recorded, they were deemed controversial and offensive enough to provoke immediate action from the Chair.
Reacting swiftly, Assembly Speaker Surama Padhi ordered the remarks to be expunged from the official records. She also barred the media from reporting on the specific content of Khatua's statements, a move intended to prevent the spread of potentially inflammatory comments.
Opposition Stages Silent Protest at Gandhi Statue
The Speaker's intervention, however, did not pacify the opposition benches. Members from the Bijou Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Congress expressed sharp outrage over the BJP MLA's remarks. They demanded an immediate and unconditional apology from Santosh Khatua.
When their demand went unheeded, the opposition MLAs attempted to disrupt the ongoing Assembly proceedings. Subsequently, they staged a unique form of protest. The legislators walked out to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located within the Assembly premises and held a 'silent' demonstration there. This act was a powerful symbolic gesture, highlighting their defense of the Father of the Nation's legacy and their condemnation of the remarks made inside the House.
Fallout and Political Implications
The incident underscores the heightened political tensions and the sensitive nature of historical figures in contemporary Indian political discourse. The protests on Thursday reflect the deep reverence for Mahatma Gandhi across party lines, with opposition parties seizing the moment to corner the ruling BJP.
While the remarks themselves remain officially unrecorded, the political fallout is clear. The episode has provided ammunition for the opposition against the BJP in Odisha. It has also raised questions about decorum and the limits of political speech within the sanctum of the state legislature. The demand for an apology remains unresolved, setting the stage for potential further confrontations in the coming assembly sessions.
The Odisha Assembly session, meant to discuss the crucial supplementary budget, was thus overshadowed by this controversy, demonstrating how symbolic politics can often take center stage in India's democratic proceedings.
