The Odisha Legislative Assembly faced turmoil as Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs staged a protest seeking the resignation of Health Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling following the fatal fire incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. The legislators, armed with posters, disrupted proceedings during the Question Hour, accusing the Health Minister of negligence that led to the tragic fire.
Speaker Surama Padhy had to adjourn the House multiple times due to the uproar caused by the Opposition members. Additionally, a symbolic funeral march of the health department was organized by BJD and Congress MLAs within the Assembly premises to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the SCB Hospital fire incident.
The protest, which included demands for the Health Minister’s immediate resignation and increased compensation for the victims’ families, highlighted the Opposition’s discontent with the state government’s response to the tragedy. Both BJD and Congress members insisted on a higher compensation amount of up to ₹1 crore per family, criticizing the government’s offer of Rs 25 lakh as inadequate.
BJD President Naveen Patnaik reiterated the call for the Health Minister’s resignation, pointing out the increasing death toll in the wake of the tragic incident. He emphasized the need for accountability and improvement in healthcare services across the state. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati criticized the deteriorating medical infrastructure in Odisha, labeling hospitals as death traps and demanding immediate action, including the Health Minister’s resignation.
BJP MLA Manas Dutta condemned the politicization of the SCB Medical College fire incident, urging members to uphold the dignity of the House instead of exploiting the tragedy for political gains. He emphasized the need for a respectful approach in addressing the aftermath of the incident, stating that the Health Minister’s resignation alone would not resolve the underlying issues.
