Noting that democracy cannot function at the whims of one person, Opposition Congress on Friday accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of not attending the Assembly proceeding except the compulsory assignments, ignoring to reply the members’ queries and often giving answers from written notes.
The allegations were made by leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra of Congress while participating in a debate on the Odisha Appropriation Bill, 2015.
"We have created a history in Odisha. A Chief Minister rarely comes to the House and replies debate from a written note without understanding the content," Mishra said, adding that he doubts whether the Chief Minister understands what he says.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, the leader of Opposition said, "He (Patnaik) has no respect for the Opposition and democracy. The House is run at his will. The House was stalled on Friday by his party members and Chief Minister did not come."
Intensifying his attack, the Congress leader said the Chief Minister and his party men often say that they (BJD) have been elected to power for four times in a row and reject Opposition at first instance.
“But, I will like to ask the voters whether they give vote to Naveen Patnaik not to seat in the House, not to intervene in debate and not to answer questions of the Opposition," Mishra said.
Citing an instance of the previous session, Mishra said the House approved an amendment in a Bill. But, the next day, the Government did not accept it and passed the legislation in absence of the Opposition. "Is not it a dictatorial mind and non-democratic attitudeIJ" he asked.
Further sharpening his tongue, Mishra said the Chief Minister probably does not know a group dictates the House. Will democracy survive under this situation, he asked.
Stating that he does not support the Appropriation Bill because the people have lost their confidence on the Government that failed in all fronts, he said, "This is evident from the activities outside. Teachers, students, farmers, Dalits, tribals, women and others are agitating against the Government policies.”
"There is planning paralysis in the Government," he said, adding that there are not required numbers of teachers, adequate and safe water to drink in villages, while irrigation has gone for a toss and starvation deaths are galore. He also said that the State is heading towards a deep financial crisis as different departments often say that there is no fund for developmental works.
The House later passed the Odisha Appropriation Bill, 2015 which granted the Government to expenditure of Rs 11448,63,55,00 out of the Consolidated Fund of the State for the year 2015-16.