Bhubaneswar: The Orissa assembly today witnessed noisy scenes during the customary obituary references on the opening day of the winter session with opposition members also demanding it for farmers who died because of crop loss.
"While obituary references could be made for jawans who protect the nation, there is no harm in paying homage to farmers who feed countrymen," Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said.
Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat rejected the demand saying there was no such tradition in parliamentary proceedings.
Earlier, obituary references were made to former governor HS Brar and former members.
Outside the house, leader of the opposition Bhupinder Singh produced a list of 30 farmers who allegedly committed suicide between October 4, 2009 and November 17 because of crop loss and loan burden.
BJP legislature party leader KV Singhdeo also told reporters that 30 farmers had died due to poverty. "We will release names of the farmers in the House."


