Oppn fumes as Budget Session of Odisha Assembly adjourned sine die

Bhubaneswar: The Budget Session of Odisha Assembly was adjourned sine die today, at least six days ahead of its schedule.

The Budget Session of Odisha Assembly began on February 21 and it was scheduled to conclude on April 6.

The first phase of the Budget Session concluded on March 1. The second phase of the session began on March 10 and it was scheduled to end on April 6.

The House transacted business for 23 days in the two phases of the Budget Session.

Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari tabled the annual Budget for 2023-24 fiscal in the Assembly on February 24.

The Budget Session was adjourned sine die by Speaker Bikram Keshari Arukha amid protests from the Opposition BJP and Congress. The treasury bench withdrew three Bills ahead of the adjournment of the House.

The MLAs of Opposition BJP and Congress raised several issues including the murder of Health Minister Naba Das, ‘Officer Raj’, Mahanadi water dispute and fake certificate racket in Bolangir in the House to corner the BJD government during the Budget Session.

Protesting the sine die adjournment, the Opposition MLAs staged a walkout. Later, the BJP legislators staged a Dharna near the Gandhi statue on the Assembly premises.

“The BJD government has no answer to the issues raised by the Opposition in the Assembly. That is why the Budget Session was declared sine die ahead of its schedule,” said Leader of Opposition Jaya Narayan Mishra.

The Congress too termed the move as undemocratic.

However, the ruling BJD claimed that the Budget Session was adjourned sine die as there was no important issue left for discussion in the House.