Odisha CM disregarding democracy: CPI

Accusing Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of showing 'utter disregard' for democracy, CPI today said the state government did not even feel it 'proper' to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the formation of legislative council in the state.
"Taking advantage of a secret pact with BJP, the ruling BJD and Naveen Patnaik have become autocratic. As Patnaik has little faith in democracy, bureaucracy runs the state," CPI's state secretary Dibakar Naik told reporters here.
Elaborating, he said Patnaik did not feel it 'proper' to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the formation of the proposed legislative council in the state.

Questioning the move for constitution of the council in a poor state like Odisha, he advocated for a state-wide debate on the issue.
During his 15 years' rule, Patnaik did not even take an all-party delegation to Delhi to realise the legitimate grants from the Centre, the CPI leader said.
Patnaik, he said, is aware of the fact that the BJP-led NDA government requires BJD support for passage of important bills in Rajya Sabha. As part of their secret game plan, BJP president Amit Shah chose not to speak against the Odisha government during his recent visit to the state.

"Neither BJP nor Congress is telling the truth but only half-truths. The truth is that both the national parties were treating the people of Odisha for the past 15 years like pawns in chess. Earlier, Congress was hand in glove (with BJD) and now BJP," Naik claimed.

He alleged that as leaders of BJD and BJP were involved in land and chit fund scams in the state they ensured that the matter was not discussed in the Assembly.
Besides, the Centre had decided against CBI inquiry into the mining scam despite recommendation by the Shah Commission due to alleged involvement of BJP leaders in it, he alleged.

Naik criticised the Centre for going for "anti-farmer" land acquisition ordinance and said the Odisha government had surrendered the state's natural resources to MNCs and now the the NDA government had handed over the country to foreign companies.