The Odisha Assembly witnessed unprecedented drama today as BJD MLAs staged a mock funeral procession to protest the state's collapsing healthcare system.
Replacing traditional slogans with the funeral chant "Ram Naam Satya Hai," opposition members shook the House with tears and heavy booing, demanding the Health Minister’s immediate resignation.
The chaos reached a fever pitch when BJD members portrayed the Health Department as a deceased entity.
In a striking display of protest, MLA Anant Narayan mimicked funeral rites by scattering grains, while MLA Arun Sahu quipped, "The department was in a coma; now it’s dead. The operation was successful, but the patient is gone."
Despite repeated pleas for order, the commotion forced Speaker Surama Padhi to adjourn the House until 11:30 AM.
The opposition's theatrical "Kokai" procession served as a sharp critique of what they term "disastrous health services," turning the legislative hall into a scene of symbolic mourning.