Bhubaneswar, Feb 16: Odisha former Chief Minister & LoP Naveen Patnaik on Monday addressed the BJD Legislature Party Meeting and asked the MLAs to fight aggressively during the Budget Session, begins tomorrow.

Following the Legislature Party Meeting Naveen took to X and wrote, “Addressed the @bjd_odisha Legislature Party meeting ahead of Budget Session of #Odisha Assembly. Asked our party MLAs to corner the Government for its failures on different fronts.While the current 'double-engine' Government is busy with slogans and photo-ops, our farmers are spending freezing nights under the open sky at mandis, guarding their hard-earned harvest from dew and theft. Biju Janata Dal is the only party which stands with farmers in all seasons and is fighting against the anti-farmer attitude of this Government. The anger of farmers is at boiling point due to illegal deduction (Katni-Chhatni) in the Mandis, 150 quintal ceiling on input subsidy, harassment and delay at Mandis in payment beyond 48 hours and distress sale. Called upon the MLAs to not let the Government hide behind rhetoric. This Government isn't just failing our farmers; it is failing the very economy of #Odisha. Till December, the budget expenditure was roughly 47%. Some departments' expenditure is as low as 15% in last 10 months of the financial year. The total collapse of law-and-order is a matter of great concern. Nobody is safe and more so our women and children, even in daytime. The Mahanadi issue remains unresolved. The State Government doesn’t show any interest and is a mute spectator in the unseen play in the hands of Chhattisgarh Govt. Odisha Government has failed on all fronts except false publicity. Asked party MLAs to fight aggressively in the budget session of the Assembly to safeguard the interest of our farmers, women, students and Odia Asmita.”