Wednesday, March 21, 2007

BJD-BJP plan to take up IIT issue in the Orissa assembly

BJD-BJP set to take on Opp in House

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, March 20: The ruling BJD-BJP combine decided to adopt an aggressive anti-Centre posture during the budget session of the Assembly beginning tomorrow. Issues relating to shifting of the proposed IIT, miserly allocations for rural electrification, restoration of flood damage and the price rise will be taken up in the House.

The combine, which met here this evening to discuss the strategies of taking on the Opposition, will fully back Speaker Mr Maheswar Mohanty in the event of any no-trust motion being tabled by the Opposition.
“We will face it,” said chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik when asked about the move of the Opposition to impeach Mr Mohanty. He, however, hoped that the Opposition would play a constructive role and debate on issues.
Apparently, the combine has sensed that the Opposition’s attack should be countered by slamming the UPA government’s alleged neglect towards state. Though issues of Central neglect and price rise had been raised and discussed in the last session, an encore is likely.
The Congress legislature party meeting was on till late evening. Reliable sources said that besides the Maheswar Mohanty matter, other aspects that will be brought up are the alleged misuse of official machinery during panchayat elections and law-and-order failure.

Making their intentions clear, the Opposition had called on Governor Rameshwar Thakur yesterday and requested him not to share the podium with Mr Mohanty while delivering his customary address to the House tomorrow.

Interestingly, neither side had budgetary allocations or economic issues on top of their agenda today despite the fact that it is to be a session where the finance minister is to place a vote on account for four months.

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