Oppn criticises govt for delay in appointment of Lokayukta

Opposition Congress and BJP today criticised the Naveen Patnaik government in the Assembly over delay in appointment of Lokayukta and accused it of giving false information on the issue.

Raising the issue during discussion on demand for grants of Home department in the assembly, Congress lawmaker and leader of opposition Narasingha Mishra said the state government recently made a claim that a notification on Lokayukta was published on January 16, 2015.

If a notification has been issued to implement Odisha Lokayukta Act, the chief minister should present it before the House, Mishra said adding there were discrepancies in claims made by the state government on Lokayukta in different fora.

Government Chief Whip Amar Prasad Satpathy, however, clarified that the state government had recently informed the Supreme Court that steps are being taken for issuance of notification to implement the Lokayukta Act.

It was never stated that an official notification about formation of Lokayukta has been published, he said.

Slamming the BJD regime, Mishra said the state government, which in 2014 claimed to have become the first state in the country to pass Lokayukta Act, is yet to appoint Lokayukta as it lacks sincerity in curbing corruption.

BJP legislator Rabi Nayak also hit out at the state government for having "failed" to appoint Lokayukta though the law for the purpose was made long ago.

Congress and BJP members also accused the BJD government of politicising the police force in order to entangle political opponents in false cases as it was "vindictive" towards them.

Nayak accused the BJD government of using the police to suppress political opposition. Attacking the government over the arrest of former state minister Jainarayan Mishra, he demanded a CBI probe into the matter to ensure justice.

Alleging that at least 14 BJP workers were killed during panchayat polls in the state last year, he said no action was being taken by the police due to pressure and interference by the ruling BJD.