Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJP and Congress mounted a scathing attack on the BD government in Odisha for closing the monsoon session of the Assembly a day ahead of schedule and accused it of running away from discussing real issues affecting the people.
While Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused the Naveen Patnaik government of ending the session before schedule out of fear, Congress alleged that both the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the saffron party have joined hands in stalling and adjourning the Assembly through a joint plan.
Launching a scathing attack on the BJD government, BJP stalwart and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra alleged that as the ruling party failed to respond to questions raised by the opposition, it adjourned the assembly sine die ahead of schedule.
Though the opposition wanted discussion on several issues, the government did not allow them to raise important topics, Mishra said, adding that the monsoon session was one of the most unproductive in the history of the state Assembly.
Stating that the eight-day session was reduced to seven days, the BJP leader claimed that the House did not even function for seven hours. Not a single adjournment motion was discussed during the session and the Assembly was abruptly adjourned sine die ahead of schedule in undemocratic manner, Mishra alleged.
Attacking the government in same vein, Congress Legislature party (CLP) leader Narasingha Mishra termed the decision to adjourn the House sine die before schedule as undemocratic.
Claiming that that bills were passed without discussion, Mishra said people’s issues were not taken up for discussion in the midst of mudslinging between members.
Senior Congress legislator Tara Prasad Bahinipati blamed both BJD and BJP for the early adjournment of the House and accused the two parties of enacting a drama to mislead people.
He said sarpanches, teachers, AYUSH doctors, and many others were staging demonstrations at the lower PMG in Bhubaneswar, but their problems could not be discussed.
“The House was brought to an end in an undemocratic way and we are condemning this,” the Congress MLA said.
Government chief whip Prashant Muduli said that no official business was left after the House passed the first supplementary statement of expenditure and the Appropriation bill on the first supplementary budget.
Therefore, keeping the chaotic situation created by the opposition in view, the Speaker adjourned the House sine die, he said.
Senior BJD MLA and former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra claimed that the opposition parties failed to raise real issues affecting the people.
Stating that the government was fully prepared to discuss and answer any questions, he claimed that the opposition parties were unable to raise any issue properly.