Bhubaneswar, Sep 28 (FN Bureau) Odisha Government will continue to march ahead transforming the state into “New Odisha” and “Empowered Odisha”, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the State Assembly. Replying to the debate on vote on demands for grants , the first supplementary grants for 2023-24 for the Home, General Administration and public grievances department in the house on Thursday, Patnaik said opposition are desperate to stall the development work. But the state government , he said, will continue to march ahead transforming Odisha into “New Odisha” “Empowered Odisha”. The Assembly on Thursday passed the first supplementary grants for 2023-24 for the Home, General Administration and Public grievances department amidst slogan shouting and walkout by the opposition. The opposition members created a ruckus in the well of the house while the Chief Minister was seeking assent of the house for the home department. Both the BJP and the Congress members walked out of the house in protest.
The BJP was protesting against the Speaker for not giving a ruling to expunge remarks passed by BJD MLA Arun Sahu against the Leader of Opposition. Both the Leader of Opposition and Congress legislature party Leader Narasingha Mishra have raised some questions on the tour of 5T Secretary to various places and the Chief Minister’s statement on September 25 last. Earlier the speaker adjourned the house five times, once during the pre lunch session and four times in the post lunch session after the opposition members disrupted the proceedings and created a ruckus in the house. The Chief Minister said people are watching the conduct of the opposition and how desperate they are to stall development works. He said with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and the cooperation of the people of Odisha the overall law and order situation in the state has remained largely peaceful and under control.
Patnaik said the communal harmony has been maintained. There was no significant law and order incident on the students, services, industrial, labour and agrarian front. The overall Maoist scenario in the state has shown a remarkable improvement, he said. The Chief Minister said more than 5,000 candidates have been appointed in Odisha Police and the Prisons Organisation. Further, clearance has been given to fill up more than 3,300 posts in police and almost a thousand in prisons and fire services. Odisha Police,he said has launched “Monitoring of Atrocity, National Commission Cases and Assistance to Victims” (MANAV) portal in August 2023 to expedite the investigation cases under SC and ST Prevention of Atrocity Act and for timely delivery of compensation to the victims. “We have zero tolerance towards crime and particularly crime against women. We have ensured free, fair, and impartial investigation”,he said. Patnaik said “I am pained to see politicisation of very sensitive cases for narrow vested interests. This is an injustice to the victims of the case, to the committed police persons who work day and night and also to the people of Odisha. Even a lady officer on duty was physically assaulted. This cannot be tolerated in a civilised society.
He said the Mo Sarkar initiative has instilled confidence of the citizens in the public services. It is very encouraging/ heartening to see that in almost all major parameters like registration and disposal of corruption cases and conviction and dismissal of convicted public servants, Odisha is among the top performing States in the country. “With all humility and my experience in this house”, the Chief Minister said those who work for people return to this house and those who do politics over crime and stall development for political consideration have not been able to return to this august house.