Budget Session Of Odisha Assembly Set To Be Stormy; Opposition Ready To Corner Govt

Bhubaneswar: The budget session of Odisha Assembly beginning on February 5 is set to be stormy as Opposition BJP and Congress are getting ready to attack the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government over a number of issues.

The session, slated to have seven working days, will be the last before the Assembly elections and the opposition parties are in no mood to spare the BJD government when the House meets.

For main opposition BJP, the major issues to be raised in the Assembly include farmers’ problems, law and order situation in the state. Party leaders claim that the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated considerably in the recent past amid incidents of theft, loot and violent clash every day.

Stating that farmers’ issues will dominate the proceedings, a BJP leader said that party members will vociferously raise the issue and come down heavily on the government.

Describing the industrial scenario in the state as dismal, he said party legislators will seek information from the government on how many industries have actually been grounded in the state.

Accusing the BJD government of relying solely on propaganda, he said BJP lawmakers will target the government over the timing of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project and the World Odia Language Conference.

The BJP Legislature Party will meet on February 5 before shortly before the commencement of the Assembly session to discuss the issues to be taken up and strategy to be adopted in the House.

Though the budget session of the Assembly clashes with the visit of Rahul Gandhi from February 6 for Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra and most Congress MLAs would be away from Bhubaneswar, Congress has decided to target the government over several issues.

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra said the party will target the government over Arpan Rath for collection of rice and betel nut ahead of the inauguration of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor Project. The party will also raise the issue and seek detailed information on the money spent on the Puri Heritage Corridor Project.