The Opposition Congress on Thursday boycotted Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s reply to the motion of thanks on the Governor’s Address in the Assembly and slammed Patnaik as the “king of horse-trading” for wooing two Independent MlAs through alleged clandestine and immoral manner on the eve of the Rajya Sabha elections in the State.
Patnaik, in his speech, announced that 10 agriculture polytechnics would be established in the State soon. Replying to the two-day discussion on the motion, he said the agri-polytechnics would help provide latest and advanced technological support to farmers. They would create a professional cadre in agriculture, horticulture, veterinary science, animal resources and fisheries.
As Patnaik started his speech, leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh dubbing him as the “king of horse-trading and killer of democratic principles”. Being the last session of the present Assembly, Patnaik highlighted the various achievements during the last 14 years of his Government. Keeping in view the upcoming general elections, he said, “We will continue our good work in the days to come.”
Patnaik said the State Plan size is likely to rise to Rs 27,000 crore for the year 2014-15 against Rs 21,467 crore in 2013-14. However, he stated that during the first two years of the 12th Plan, the State’s growth rate was affected due to the faulty polices of the Central Government and the general economic slowdown. He pointed out that Odisha achieved the highest reduction of poverty among all States when the ratio dropped by 24.6 percentage points in a six-year period from 2004-05. However, Patnaik skipped the crime situation, particularly the crimes against women, the general law and order situation and the Maoist menace.