leader of Opposition (loP) Narasingha Mishra has asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take immediate steps to enforce the Odisha lokayukta Act if the latter is “really serious to convince people” that he wants to curb corruption in the State.
The Act, Mishra pointed out in a letter to Patnaik on Tuesday, has already received the assent of the President of India and is awaiting a Government notification for implementation.
“Your move to abolish PC (percentage) in Government offices will be welcomed if you are really serious in the matter. All the blocks in the State are dens of corruption where PC system is rampant; no file moves without payment,” Mishra stated in the context of the Chief Minister asking district Collectors to stop collecton of PC at the block level.
He said that so long as a notification is not issued, the lokayukta Act will not come into force. It is already abnormally delayed.
“I hope you will take immediate steps for appointment of a lokayukta in Odisha who can deal with corruption matters including PC. So long the step is not taken, there is every reason for people to think that your call for abolition of PC is a political slogan and lacks political will,” the leader of Opposition said in the latter.