Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has strongly criticised the opposition parties — BJD and Congress — for stalling the Odisha Legislative Assembly for the past two weeks during the budget session.
CM Majhi accused the Opposition members of boycotting the crucial discussion on the expenditure demands (Appropriation Bill) and instead resorting to protests, sloganeering and disruption.
Speaking in the Assembly while replying to the debate, Majhi said it was “unfortunate” that the entire budget session had been rendered non-functional over a single issue. “The opposition has a moral responsibility towards the people of the state. They could have participated in the discussion and offered many valuable suggestions,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister pointed out that constructive debates and arguments between the ruling and opposition benches are normal in the Assembly and Parliament, but stalling proceedings over one matter is regrettable. He asked the opposition to introspect, noting that the people of Odisha have closely watched their conduct in the House.
Taking on the opposition’s criticism regarding farmers’ income, Majhi said that during their 24 years in power, Odisha ranked second-lowest among all states in the country on this parameter. “After our government came to power, farmers’ income has increased,” he claimed.
Majhi condemned the opposition’s repeated drama of calling him a “weak Chief Minister” while referring to the Health Minister as “strong”. He described the tactic as “condemnable”. Recalling the previous regime, he said ministers were often made scapegoats while officials took decisions. He cited several controversial cases from that period — the Pari, Mamita and Mahanga double-murder incidents, as well as the broad daylight assassination of a Health Minister by a police personnel — where, he alleged, the government showed no accountability, and the matters ended with mere inquiries.
In contrast, Majhi said the current government has taken prompt action on the recent SCB Medical College incident in Cuttack. “An inquiry is underway, and strict action will be taken,” he assured.
The Chief Minister also targeted the previous BJD government, alleging that a “special Babu” was the real power centre during Naveen Patnaik’s tenure. “People know who was actually running the show. Even now, I am told the same person continues to control the BJD and Congress remotely from Delhi, Mumbai and Tokyo,” he remarked.
Majhi further slammed the opposition’s “weak CM” jibe, saying it amounts to insulting the entire Adivasi community. “Forty per cent of the state’s population belongs to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and 54 per cent are from backward classes. I represent the Adivasi community. Mocking me is mocking all of them,” he said, adding that the opposition has insulted the state’s 4.5 crore people.
He concluded by noting that BJD and Congress are now behaving like “two brothers” united against the government and have jointly displayed their strength. “But before uniting, they could not retain the trust of their own 11 MLAs,” Majhi said in a sharp dig.
