Bhubaneswar: The appropriation bill has been passed in the Assembly in absence of the members of opposition on Saturday.

House resolved the appropriation bill for the year 2010to the tune of Rs 39, 896 crore  59 lakh 68 thousand presented to the House by Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei.

Finance Minister Sri  Ghadei said, increasing the growth rate and poverty alleviation are the prime challenges before the government. The economic scenario of the state would change if the centre provides financial assistance and cooperation, Ghadei asserted.

On the other hand, the Congress MLAs observed a "black day" on Saturday  as the Assembly took up the appropriation bill in the absence of Opposition members. Slamming the BJD government for leaving two tainted Ministers scot-free, Congress legislators continued their sit-in near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in assembly premises wearing black badges and arm bands ,carried placards and banners displaying anti-government slogans .

Congress members  said it was a black day in the history of Orissa Assembly as the BJD government kept the Opposition members out of the House in an "anti-democratic and unconstitutional manner while tabling the appropriation bill.