The Odisha State Assembly has adjourned till 29th March as a precaution against coronavirus, despite several protests by opposition members against the move. The decision to adjourn the assembly was taken following a voice vote on a motion moved by BJD MLA Pramila Mallik, soon after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced the pre-emptive steps taken by his government to ward off the coronavirus threat in Odisha. After an hour worth of discussion, Speaker Surya Narayan Patra announced adjournment of the house.
The motion for adjournment said that the budget discussions, which were scheduled to be held on March 27, will be passed through guillotine without discussion, when the House re-assembles on 30th March.
While moving the motion, the government chief whip said that the coronavirus is spreading throughout the world at an alarming pace. “The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a pandemic. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also expressed his concern over the situation and initiated a number of steps to check the spread of Corona in the state,” said Mallik.
Leader of Opposition, Pradipta Kumar Naik argued that there was no need for the Assembly to be adjourned as the state was yet to record a single case. He emphasized the urgency to discuss matters relating to the lock-up of funds in YES Bank for the Jagannath Temple in Puri, and other allied concerns, mentioning that the move was a conspiracy on part of the government to avoid further scrutiny.