Opposition Congress and BJP today sought a statement from Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the ‘lavish’ spending on Make In Odisha (MIO) Conclave and death of above 100 children in Malkangiri district in Japanese Encephalitis (JE).
The issues were raised by members of both the parties in the Assembly during Zero hour.
Clarifying that Congress was not against industrialisation in the state, party Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati wanted to know how much the state has spent on organising the MIO Conclave.
“You (govt) spent lavishly for industrialists in the conclave while poor people who lost their children to Japanese Encephalitis are denied any assistance,” Bahinipati alleged adding that his party demanded a statement from the Chief Minister.
Besides Bahinipati, Congress members Prafulla Majhi, Naba Das, Chandrasekhar Majhi, Krushna Chandra Sagaria and Bhujabal Maji also criticised the state government for holding the MIO conclave when children are dying in Malkangiri.
“The state government is answerable for lavish spending on Make In Odisha. While Jeypore paper mill is defunct and cottage industries in Koraput remained dead for years, BJD government is showing false hopes of industrial growth,” said Prafulla Majhi.
Some members also criticised the government for announcing ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh for SUM hospital fire victims while only Rs 12,000 is being given to families of victims in Malkangiri.
BJP member Pradip Purohit dubbed the MIO as a publicity stunt of the BJD government.
Ruling BJD members Prafulla Samal, defended the government and claimed that MOI was the state’s first mega business meet and this would help Odisha to grow industrially.