Oppn raises question on retirement age raised announcement

A day after Odisha government raised the retirement age for its employees from 58 years to 60 years, opposition Congress and BJP today raised question on the manner of the announcement made in this regard.
"The state government has insulted the Odisha Assembly by making such announcement outside the House. As per the practice, the government should make announcement of any policy decision in the assembly when the House in on session," Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra (Congress) said in a statement.
While welcoming the government's decision to raise the retirement age of employees, Mishra said: "The state government has also violated the model code of conduct in force for the civic body elections in Balangir and Titlagarh."

"The government's announcement has influenced the voters in the two civic bodies whether elections are being held," Mishra said demanding action against the state government for the violation of the model code of conduct.
Meanwhile, BJP also accused the state government of insulting the Assembly by making announcement outside the House.
"The state government should have taken the House into confidence before making such popular announcement," BJP spokesman Sajan Sharma said.
The BJP spokesman said that while extending the retirement age of the employees, the state government must ensure that the youths also get equal opportunity to enter into the government jobs.