Issues galore with Opp to corner Govt in Assembly; BJD likely to bring censure motion against Centre
Despite the ruling BJD sweeping the UlB polls by drubbing both the main Opposition Congress and BJP, the Winter Session, beginning from Thursday, is likely to generate much heat, as issues to put the Government in the dock galore.
Both the Congress and BJP are likely to go belligerent from day one, as issues like the Government’s failure to tackle the Phailin and floods, mal-distribution, looting of relief materials by BJD leaders and Government’s efforts to shield the MlAs involved in the incident, deteriorating law and order situation, rising cases of atrocities against women particularly Itishree Pradhan murder, skyrocketing prices of vegetables including onion, potato scarcity and Bhusan blast are galore.
lack of reconstruction and rehabilitation measures in the Phailin and flood-hit areas including the worst-affected Ganjam district where people are still living under the open sky braving the winter and groping in dark in absence of restoration of power supply is likely to give the opposition ammunition to attach the Government.
Continued neglect of primary sectors like agriculture and horticulture for the past 13 years despite the Government’s tall claim to have achieved over seven per cent growth in the sector would be a handy agenda for the opposition to corner the Naveen Government.
The BJP would attack the Government for its anti-farmer attitude and demand higher compensation for the calamity-hit farmers. It would also raise the issue of delay in establishment of a High Court bench in western Odisha.
Besides, both the opposition parties are ready to put the Government in the dock over the issue of brutal killing of Tikiri school teacher Itishree Pradhan. They would demand the resignation of Chief Minister Naveen Panaik and sacking of School and Mass Education Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda for failing to give justice to the victim despite her repeated pleas, besides seeking a CBI probe into the case. Their demand would also include filing of criminal cases against Rayagada Collector and SP for dereliction of duty and removal of the State Women’s Commission in the light of drawing flak from its national counterpart for failing to act in this case.
The Opposition parties are also ready for fireworks on the issue of explosion in the Bhushan Steel ltd (BSl) in Dhenkanal, in which two persons died and 30 others injured. BSl’s blatant violation of environment and labour laws, role of the Chief Minister and the lenient attitude shown by the concerned departments towards the company would be the main issue of discussion.
“Besides, the Opposition would ask the Government to table all the information relating to BSl since its inception,” said BJP floor manager Jayanaryan Mishra.
“The Congress would demand judicial probe into all the accidents occurred in BSl till date,” said leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh.
The Opposition parties are also set to raise the issue of misuse of official machinery and use of money power for winning the recently concluded UlB polls. They would also demand resignation of Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya for violation of poll code by threatening the voters with non-allocating funds if they did not vote for BJD.
They would hold their respective legislature party meetings on Wednesday to give final shape to their strategies to pin down the Government in this last session of the current Assembly.
The BJD is also all set to chalk out its strategy to counter the charges likely to be leveled by the Opposition parties in its legislature Party meeting on Wednesday. Government Chief Whip in the Assembly Pravat Tripathy said, “The Government is ready for discussion on any issue raised by the Opposition.”
The treasury bench would also raise its pet Central neglect issue. It would highlight the issue of utter neglect by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre in providing calamity assistance, despite the announcement made by the Prime Minister. The BJD is also likely to bring a censure motion against the UPA Government on this issue.
Much to the discomfort of the Congress, BJP would also join hand with its erstwhile partner BJD on this issue.
The session would run till December 26. While the first supplementary statement of expenditure for the fiscal 2013-14 would be presented by the Finance Minister on November 29, the Appropriation Bill on the supplementary budget would come for the approval of the House on December 9. There are 12 official days for transaction of business, while four days have been fixed for Private Members Business.