Tue Nov 26 22:17:36 UTC 2024: **Odisha Assembly Session Disrupted by Protest Over Old Constitution Preamble**
BHUBANESWAR, INDIA (November 26, 2024) – The first day of the Odisha Assembly’s winter session was disrupted today by a protest from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress party. The opposition parties objected to the display of an outdated version of the Constitution’s Preamble at the Assembly entrance, which lacked the words “socialist” and “secular.”
BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain initiated the protest, pointing out that the Supreme Court recently dismissed petitions challenging the inclusion of these words in the Preamble. MLA Goutam Budha Das argued that the State government should have immediately replaced the old Preamble with the amended version, especially on Constitution Day (November 26th).
The opposition’s demand for the immediate replacement of the Preamble led to a heated exchange and a walkout by BJD MLAs, who were supported by Congress members. Following the protest, Speaker Surama Padhy adjourned the Assembly proceedings until 4 p.m.
While defending the BJD’s past inaction, Mr. Das stated that the party had withheld its opposition while the matter was pending before the Supreme Court. The opposition parties are insistent on the immediate replacement of the outdated Preamble.
First Piper 