Odisha assembly adjourned after protests over ‘fertiliser scarcity’
The party MLAs, holding placards and banners highlighting the fertiliser crisis and farmers’ distress in the state, trooped into the well of the House and demanded a full-fledged discussion on the issue
There was pandemonium in Odisha Assembly for the second consecutive day on Saturday as the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress escalated their protest against a “severe fertiliser crisis” gripping the state. Chaotic scenes unfolded inside the House with opposition members storming the well, shouting slogans and holding placards demanding immediate government action to end the alleged black marketing of fertilisers.
The opposition members continued to raise their voices against the state’s BJP government and blamed it for the farmers’ distress. (PTI photo)
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The House moved a condolence motion for former Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey, who died on Friday night.
As soon as the Question Hour began, BJD members trooped into the well of the House, waving banners and demanding a discussion on fertiliser availability.
Speaker Surama Padhy repeatedly urged them to return to their seats and allow the House to function, but with no response from the Opposition benches, she was forced to adjourn the Assembly till afternoon.
The BJD alleged that the government has failed to ensure timely and adequate supply of fertilisers, leaving farmers with no choice but to purchase them from the open market at inflated prices. The party accused the ruling dispensation of allowing large-scale black marketing and demanded suspension of all other business to hold a debate on the issue.
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BJP legislator Irasis Acharya said the Opposition was “playing politics over farmers’ plight” and avoiding a structured debate.
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BJP legislator Irasis Acharya said the Opposition was “playing politics over farmers’ plight” and avoiding a structured debate.
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“The BJD and Congress fear being exposed for their own track record. The BJP stands firmly with the farmers and is committed to solving their problems,” he said.
According to an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Odisha’s fertiliser requirement for the 2025 Kharif season stands at 9.55 lakh metric tonnes, all of which has been allocated by the Centre. Of the 11.66 lakh metric tonnes available with the state, 9.85 lakh metric tonnes have already been distributed or sold to farmers, the statement said.
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.
