BJD blames centre for Odisha’s woes

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday said it would take up the issue of the “Central government’s negligence towards the state” across the spectrum during the Winter Session of Odisha Assembly scheduled to begin on Thursday. Speaking on the party’s strategy for the upcoming session, Odisha parliamentary affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said the Central government has made several deductions in funding of a number of schemes operational in the state for which they provided financial assistance earlier. The BJD will raise “this gross apathy” of the Centre towards the state across the board. “Besides, the NDA government’s bias in Mahanadi water dispute and Polavaram issue will also be in our focus. The state government will be open to discuss any issue that the Opposition will raise in the House,” he added. Leader of the Opposition, Narasingha Mishra said there are a number of pressing issues, including Japanese Encephalitis deaths, Mahanadi water dispute, Gumudumaha firing and Nagada deaths, which will be discussed in the House.

“We will demand discussion in the House on several important issues including the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Japanese Encephalitis crisis, issues of farmers and Mahanadi issue among others,” said Leader of BJP Legislature Party KV Singhdeo.

Speaking to reporters after the BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik said the treasury bench would try to address all concerns of the Opposition.