Congress Stages Walkout On 1st Day Of Odisha Assembly Budget Session; Accuses Govt Of Using Governor To Praise It

Bhubaneswar: As the budget session of Odisha Assembly began on Monday with the address of Governor Rabhubar Das, members of opposition Congress staged a walkout accusing the state government of using the speech to shower praise on it.

In his maiden address to the Assembly after taking charge, the Governor spoke for around 1 hour and 58 minutes.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra alleged that the state government used the Governor to praise and pat its own back.

Stating that Governors usually read out the speech prepared by the state governments, the veteran Congress leader said the Governor spoke for long hours.

Earlier, kings used to hire some people to listen to their own praise, and the Odisha government is using the Governor in a similar fashion, which is unfortunate, Mishra claimed.

He further alleged that the information presented by the Governor on the instructions of the state government are not correct.

Stating that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Lower Suktel irrigation project on January 3, Mishra said during the event, he had told the CM that he was inaugurating an incomplete project. The Governor in his speech said that the Lower Suktel Project has been inaugurated and facility made to irrigate lands of farmers. Similarly, there are other things which are not based on facts, he claimed.

The Congress leader further claimed that usually Governor highlights the works to be taken up by the government, but there was no mention of such programmes.

There was no mention about steps to check unemployment, labour migration, and crime against women, he claimed.