Odisha MLA Santosh Khatua makes controversial remarks on Mahatma Gandhi, BJD and Congress MLAs stage walkout from Assembly
Odisha BJP MLA Santosh Khatua today made a controversial remark on national father Mahatma Gandhi prompting the BJD and Congress MLAs to stage a walkout from the state assembly as a mark of protest.
Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP MLA Santosh Khatua today made a controversial remark on national father Mahatma Gandhi prompting the BJD and Congress MLAs to stage a walkout from the state assembly as a mark of protest.
According to reports, Santosh Khatua, who represents the Nilgiri Assembly constituency, made a controversial statement during the discussion on the supplementary budget of the Home and Public Administration Department.
Soon, the MLAs of opposition parties, BJD and Congress, strongly protested by raising slogans against him and walked out of the State Assembly. They also launched a mauna vrata by sitting on dharna infront of the statute of Mahatma Gandhi on the premises of the state assembly.
The protesters demanded a public apology from MLA Santosh Khatua either by holding a press conference or in the State assembly.
“It is very unfortunate that the BJP leaders are making controversial remarks on the great personalities of our country who gave us freedom and formed laid down their lives. We strongly condemn what the BJD MLA said about Mahatma Gandhi and we will continue our protest until the speaker appropriate action against him,” reacted Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam.
Adding to him, BJD leader Pramila Mallik said that we will continue our protest until Santosh Khatua seeks a public apology from the people of the entire Odisha and country for what he has said.
Later, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling and concerned officials held a discussion with protesting legislators following the instruction of Speaker Surama Padhy and requested them to return back to the state assembly co-operate with the business of the house.
However, the BJD and Congress reiterated their demands for a public apology from MLA Santosh Khatua, to which the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that the Assembly speaker would look into it. Later, the protesters returned back to the assembly.
