BJP’s national executive body member Bijay Mohapatra on Tuesday lashed out at Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government by saying the Government suffers multiple organ failure.
In his reaction to the completion of first year of the BJD Government’s fourth term, Mohapatra said the Government has failed miserably in several sectors which have been pointed out by the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) earlier. “The BJD Government is going to celebrate its first year of fourth term on May 21, but, I can say, it is the year of indictment and collapse,” he added.
Mohapatra said two to three powerful bureaucrats are running the Government now. Even they give orders and take decisions on many critical issues instead of the State Cabinet. Cabinet papers are not circulated among the Ministers before the meeting unlike other States. It shows that the Chief Minister has isolated himself from governance. It has been reflected in several incidents, he added.
He criticised the Chief Minister for always reading slips or notes prepared by bureaucrats in different occasions, including Cabinet meetings, when facing media and having discussion with Union Ministers. “Dear Chief Minister, have you ever tried to speak without following the slips within 15 years of your tenureIJ How many days you will continue with this slip politics,” asked Mohapatra.
Even the Chief Minister is not capable enough to put signature on the important documents as a result of which the bureaucrats pass the files by putting his signature stamp on the file. Patnaik does not have interest or time to understand the files also. “You are incapable to govern the State,” said Mohapatra to the Chief Minister.
The BJP leader said the State Government has already been reprimanded by the Supreme Court for four times in a year. In the child missing case, the court on November 25 last year had pointed out dismal performance of the State in tracing out the missing children. “The State is doing nothing to trace out the missing children,” the court had mentioned in its order. The court was critical on the Government in the cases like MMS video scandal, Itishree murder case and chit fund issue, he added.
The CAG also rapped the State Government for mismanagement and irregularities in different departments of the State. It had pointed out that the State has experienced revenue loss of Rs 13,000 crore in different sectors due to mismanagement and irregularities, said Mohapatra.
He said the State has spent more than Rs 135 crore through employment mission to employ youths of the State, but the output was very frustrating. Only 752 youths got jobs, which is nothing but betraying the youths. “It is very sad to see the State has started engaging retired officers in the Government sectors instead of appointing youths,” he added.
Mohapatra also alleged that the State has failed to use Central fund as a result of which Rs 6,000 crore was returned to the Centre in five years. This money could have been used for supplying safe drinking water to jaundice-affected towns of the State, he added.
He raised question over the State Government’s sincerity for tribal development. “Why the Chief Minister conducted the meeting of Tribal Advisory Committee after two years instead of conducting twice a year,” he said, adding, “Can Patnaik answer me why a Dongaria tribal woman died on the way to hospital at Rayagada.”
Describing the State Government’s double standards on land scam, the BJP leader challenged Patnaik to make public the land documents of his Naveen Niwas. He alleged that Patnaik’s house was built on a disputed land.