Winter session of Odisha assembly likely to be 'stormy'

SUBRAT DAS Bhubanewar, November 19: The 40- day- long winter session of Odisha assembly commencing tomorrow is likely to be stormy with the Opposition ready with several ammunitions to attack the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, while the ruling party getting prepared to counter the Opposition offensive. "We have several issues ready at hand to corner the government on the floor of the assembly. The state government has failed to manage the Covid-19 pandemic despite flow of crores from the Centre. The law and order situation has totally deteriorated while the women folk feeling insecure during this regime. The farmers, who are feeding us, suffer as the government fails to purchase their produce at remunerative price, forcing them for distress sale. The state government has failed to protect borders as the neighbouring states are encroaching several portions", said Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik after the meeting of the BJP Legislature Party this afternoon. Naik said the BJP, the main Opposition party, would raise burning issues on the floors of the assembly during the coming winter session. " The BJD had come to power twenty years ago on the slogans of  "  Gaonku kaama, maaku samman" (rural employment and respect to women). "However. this has remained a mere slogan", he rued citing several instances of growing crimes against women. The Opposition Leader said though the Speaker has rejected the Opposition demand to continue the Question Hour in the winter session on the plea of Covid restrictions, the opposition parties would raise various issues during the Zero Hour exposing the government's failures and irregularities. " The state government has misappropriated crores of public money and Central funds in the containment of the Covid-19 pandemic", said Naik stating that the Opposition would expose the scam involving the  corona management. " Obviously, the Covid scam and mismanagement  will be the leading issue to be raised by our party. Besides, we will put the government in dock over the issues like deterioration in law and order, insecurity of women and farmers' woes.", said Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra. On the other hand. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired the meeting of the ruling BJD MLAs to chalk out measures to face the  Opposition and asked them to stay prepared to counter the Opposition offensive. " We are prepared to face any issues to be raised by the Opposition", he said. The treasury bench members are likely to raise the issues like Central neglect of Odisha and price rise of essential commodities, said a senior BJD legislator. Besides, several legislative bills and the Rs 11, 200 crore supplementary budget will be discussed during the session.