Bhubaneswar: Mounting a stinging attack on Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik for terming Odisha budget as ‘name changer’, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday claimed that the previous BJD government launched schemes only for vote bank.
Replying to the discussion on his government’s maiden budget for 2024-25 in the Assembly, the Chief Minister claimed that many programmes introduced by the BJD regime failed to take off and came to an end before implementation.
Therefore, people of the state decided to bring about a change after their hopes were shattered during 24 years of BJD rule, he said, adding that BJP is providing a people’s government with focus on ‘Odia Asmita’ to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the masses.
Coming down heavily on Naveen Patnaik for his ‘name changer and jumla’ jibes, the CM said the opposition leader should know who is ‘name changer’ and who is ‘game changer’. BJD failed to deliver despite being in power for a very long time as it ran a ‘jumla’ government without any focus on good governance, he claimed.
Affirming his government’s resolve to build a ‘Viksit Odisha’, Majhi said the focus is on transformation, development, good governance and Odia Asmita and a roadmap has been prepared to achieve the goal of a developed Odisha by 2036.
Hailing the state budget as ‘people’s budget,’ he said it is a reflection of the promises made by BJP to bring about a qualitative change in the life of the people.
Adequate emphasis has been placed in the budget on social justice, development of infrastructure, healthcare for all, social security for the deprived sections, and empowerment of women, youths, SCs, STs, backward classes, differently abled people and senior citizens, the CM said.
Asserting that the government’s priority is to give due respect to great personalities and legendary figures, Majhi said several schemes have been named after such personalities as a mark of honour to them and there is nothing wrong in doing this.
Similarly, schemes with English nomenclatures have been given Odia names as a mark of respect to the state’s rich culture, language and heritage, he said.
