By IANS
Bhubaneswar : The stalemate in the Orissa assembly continued for the third consecutive day Wednesday with the opposition taking up the issue of farmers and teachers being caned by police.
Opposition parties led by the Congress have been demanding an immediate discussion on recent incidents of police hitting farmers and teachers with batons and have suspended all business of the house.
Although the ruling alliance led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has agreed to discuss the matter, it has said the discussion would be held at an appropriate time.
When the speaker refused to allow a discussion Wednesday, opposition members they raised slogans and brandished banners with cartoons highlighting the government’s failures.
Speaker Maheswar Mohanty initially adjourned the house for one hour. When situation did not improve, he further adjourned the house till afternoon.
Dozens of farmers were injured when the police charged at them near Hirakud dam in western Orissa’s Sambalpur district on Nov 6. The farmers were protesting against the diversion of irrigation water from the dam to industries.
On Saturday, more than 60 people were injured when police baton-charged agitating teachers demanding regularisation of employment in different parts of the state.
The winter session of the assembly began Monday will continue for about 27 days.