Bhubaneswar: Winter Session of the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly to commence today. Supplementary budget for 2019-20 financial year to be presented in the House today. The session will have 30 working days, of which 21 have been earmarked for official business.
Opposition BJP and Congress have already made strategies to counter the State Government on various issues, including 5T initiative and Mo Sarkar programme.
The alleged suicide of Jajpur district’s Haridashpur VLW Smitarani Biswal and the Kendrapara Credit Cooperative Society sexual harrasment case will be other major issues against the Government.
“We will raise several issues pertaining to law and order and corruption to take on the BJD Government. We will also seek a discussion on the Jagannath Temple’s missing key case and the Government’s delay in tabling the Judicial Commission’s Report on the matter,” said Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik.
He also said the BJP MLAs would highlight the State Government’s ‘partisan approach’ in distribution of aid to Cyclone Fan-affected people.
‘People having links with the BJD have been given more than one house while the eligible ones have been deprive of the support,” he said.
Naiak said the alleged irregularities in the KALIA scheme would also be raised in the House.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said the State Government has failed to tackle the situation that arose out of natural calamities.
“We will also seek a discussion on the Government’s 5T initiative and Mo Sarkar programme. The Government has been shielding some senior bureaucrats who are in neck-deep incorruption,” said Mishra. Senior Congress MLAs Taraprasad Bahinipati and Suresh Routray said they would seek explanation for the ‘deteriorating law and order’ situation in the State.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Kesari Arukha sought the cooperation of the Opposition parties for the smooth functioning of the Assembly. “The Treasury Bench is ready for discussion on all constructive issues to be raised by the opposition parties,” he asserted.
Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro on Tuesday said MLAs can put their questions and seek answers through mobile app this winter session scheduled to start from Wednesday (November 13).
Patro informed that the Assembly premises would be completely Wi-Fi-enabled soon. Arrangements and changes like infrastructure would be carried out to move towards the paperless concept, he added.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, DGP BK Sharma reviewed the security arrangement at the Assembly ahead of the winter session. Police Commissioner Sudhansu Sarangi and DCP Bhubaneswar Anup Sahoo were present during the review.
A total of 30 platoons of police force and 90 officers would be deployed to ensure foolproof security for the legislature. “However, the cops’ deployment depends on the requirement on a day-to-day basis, the DGP said, adding that the Assembly premises would be kept under the glare of CCTV cameras.
A three-tier security arrangement has been made in the Assembly premises. Two platoons of Special Tactical Unit, Striking Force and Quick Response Team would be deployed at the legislature.
To maintain law and order at the Lower PMG, which is located close to the Assembly and is the venue for series of protests during the sessions of the legislature, some officers of the Seventh Battalion have been given special training. Besides, experienced officers would be deployed at the Assembly, Sharma added.
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