Bhubaneswar, March 7 -- The Odisha Assembly on Friday witnessed chaotic scenes as legislators from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress staged separate protests over key issues concerning the state.

BJD MLAs strongly objected to the state government's decision to shift the observance of Panchayati Raj Diwas from March 5 to April 24. Simultaneously, Congress MLAs registered their protest against the alleged rise in crimes against women in the state.

The state BJP government on Monday said it will observe March 5 as the former CM's birth anniversary and not as 'Panchayati Raj Day,' as has been celebrated for decades. Further, there would be no Government holiday on March 5, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said.

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