Budget session of Odisha assembly adjourned sine die

The budget session of Odisha Assembly was adjourned sine die on Monday, four days ahead of schedule, with both the ruling BJD and the opposition blaming each other for stalling house proceedings.

The house, which was scheduled to be in session till May 20, had sittings for 27 days in two phases.

The session began on March 15 where Finance Minister Pradeep Kumar Amat presented a Rs.94,052.65 crore budget for 2016-17 but the second phase was almost washed out following ruckus by opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party over various issues.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said it is most unfortunate and a matter of serious concern that the second phase was continuously stalled by the opposition, affecting the interests of people and the state.

"My government and my party always believes in the highest traditions of parliamentary democracy, took all initiatives to reach out to the opposition to restore normalcy and get into serious legislative business.

"I also personally took initiatives to restore normalcy in the house. But the opposition did not cooperate and continued their obstructionist attitude for narrow political agenda at the expense of larger interest of people of our state.

"What is most unfortunate is that the temple of democracy was used as a forum of agitational politics in spite of its clear prohibition in legislative rules. People have voted us to this august house to discuss and deliberate their issues and legislate for their betterment. The time has come for serious self-introspection by the opposition," said Patnaik, who is also head of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra, of the Congress, however hit out at the BJD for not allowing the opposition to speak in house, apprehending that the government, which is involved in various scam, would get exposed.

--IANS

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