Whose interest was Odisha CM serving on Delhi tour, asks Oppn

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 12:

Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra on Wednesday emabarrassed the ruling BJD government in the Odisha Assembly raising questions on the recent tour of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to New Delhi.

Narasingh Mishra
Narasingh Mishra

“As per reports published the media, the Chief Minister had gone to the national capital for a closed door meeting with the Prime Minister to escape from the CBI investigation into the chit fund scam and Talabira-II coal block allotment scam,” Mishra told the House.

He also came down heavily on the Chief Minister for his scant respect to the State Assembly.

“We have a Chief Mminister who does not have minimum respect for the State Assembly. He pays courtesy visit to the House for 2-5 minutes and then goes out in a huff. Neither he is avaialble to answer any question asked by a member and nor does he reply to any allegation brought against him. This is grossly unfortunate and I cannot accept his nonchalant attitude,”, Mishra said.

Referring to the New Delhi tour of the Chief Minister, the Opposition leader said Patnaik’s  absence in the House will not be taken into account if his visit is the for the larger interests of the state. However, he is answerable to the House, which has a right to know about the details of his visit.

Replying to the statement of Mishra, Parliamentary Affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said the Chief Minister had gone to Delhi for the interest of the state. He had met Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley and discussed Central assistance for post-Phailin restoration and rehabilitation works and the apathy of the 14th Finance Commission towards Odisha.

“Besides, the Chief Minister had also met Union Coal minister and opposed the some of the amended provisions in the MMDR Act,” Arukh said.

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