Monsoon Session Of Odisha Assembly Likely To Be Stormy

Bhubaneswar: With the ensuing Assembly and Lok Sabha elections scheduled for next year, the monsoon session of the Odisha Assembly beginning Tuesday is expected to be stormy.

While the Opposition Congress will try to corner the state government on issues relating to non-payment of insurance money and formation of the Vidhan Parishad, the BJP is bracing up to raise issues like percentage commission in government offices, farmers’ issues and hijacking of central schemes.

“There are several issues in Odisha. The unemployment problem has become acute in the state and so has shortage of drinking water during monsoon season. We will raise these issues in the House and urge the government to address them on a priority basis. Besides, we will seek clarifications from the government on issues relating to the setting up of Lokayukta in the state, rampant corruption in Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash Yojana and Biju Yuva Vahini programme and issues of doctors and teachers,” leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra said.

“The state government had claimed that it has stopped the practice of percentage commission. But these activities are rife at the block and tehsil levels. There has been a rise in farmer suicides in the recent months. We will raise these issues in the House,” said BJP MLA Pradip Purohit.

On the other hand, the BJD is ready to counter any charge of the Opposition.

“We will raise the issues relating to Mahanadi and Polavaram and drastic cut in the central assistance and its gross apathy towards Odisha. These issues would be discussed threadbare at the party’s legislature meeting tomorrow,” Parliamentary Affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh told the media here.

He said a resolution on the setting up of the Vidhan Parishad would be brought in the Assembly during the monsoon session. “We are ready to take up any issues raised by the Opposition for a thorough discussion in the House,” the minister added.

The monsoon session, which will continue till September 20, will have 11 working days. Besides, six bills will be tabled.

While the supplementary budget is scheduled to be presented on the first day of the session, it is most likely to be postponed to the following day as the House is likely to be adjourned after moving a condolence motion to pay tributes to former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sources said.