BJD chief used to read out written speeches, says Majhi
Bhubaneswar: A day after Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik's 'long speeches do not make development' jibe, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday claimed that the BJD chief read write-ups instead of speaking to the people directly when he was the chief minister. Majhi made the comment while addressing the 'State Level Vikas Mela' here being held to mark the completion of his government's one year in office on June 12.
'The Leader of the Opposition ridiculed the BJP government over my long speeches and alleged non-performance. What (Patnaik) were you doing all along? You used to read out written speeches. You had no link with the people. Just waving to people for two minutes and never attending the CM's Grievance Cell for 16 years,' Majhi said.
Majhi also attacked Patnaik over his style of governance and alleged that a handful of officers from the CMO used to attend CM's Grievance Cell and collect petitions from people. 'Those petitions were thrown into the dustbins. What prevented you from meeting people and listening to their grievances? Finally, people rejected your government,' Majhi said.
After ruling the State for 24 years, the BJD was defeated by the BJP in the Assembly elections last year.
At a party programme on Tuesday, Patnaik accused the Mohan Charan Majhi dispensation of focusing only on long speeches and publicity, instead of real development. Noting that he became Chief Minister of Odisha starting his political career as a 'Sarpanch', Majhi claimed he understands the plights of people at the grassroots level.
Majhi said the CM's grievance hearing sessions are also now being held outside Bhubaneswar and attended by people in large numbers. 'Of the 10,894 grievances heard in grievance sessions, 9,388 cases were resolved.
More than 5 lakh grievances were resolved through Jana Sunani portal,' an official note said. Referring to Patnaik's allegations that women's empowerment has been grossly affected as Mission Shakti initiative is being weakened in the BJP government, Majhi alleged that the former chief minister has insulted women.
Majhi said, 'Making provision of some funds does not make women empowered. During our small tenure, the BJP government has created over 16 lakh Lakhpati Didis. Women get financial assistance through Subhadra Yojana and utilise them in small businesses. What prevented you from giving financial assistance to the women for doing business?' Majhi also came down heavily on the BJD president on the farmer's issue.
'You (BJD government) had promised to give Rs 100 per quintal of paddy as subsidy, but failed. We in the BJP government are giving Rs 800 per quintal of paddy as input subsidy. The farmers in Odisha now sell their paddy at the rate of Rs 3,100 per quintal,' the Chief Minister said. Around 17 lakh farmers' families have added Rs 30,000 per annum to their income after the BJP formed the government in the State, he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Andhra Deputy CM Pawan extends Rs 25 lakh aid to slain jawan's kin
ANANTAPUR: Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena chief Konidala Pawan Kalyan kept his promise made during the martyred Jawan Murali Naik's funeral and extended financial aid of Rs 25 lakh from his own funds to the family members on Saturday. Jana Sena MLAs Arani Srinivasulu (Tirupati), Nimmala Jayakrishna (Palakonda), Anantapur-Hindupur Urban Development Authority (AHUDA) Chairman TC Varun, along with several other key Jana Sena leaders, visited Murali Naik's hometown Kalli Thanda in Gorantla mandal of Sri Sathya Sai district and paid floral tributes to the slain jawan's portrait. Later, the MLAs handed over the cheque to Murali Naik's parents and enquired about their well-being. On the occasion, the Jana Sena MLAs assured that the coalition government will stand by the jawan's family and told Murali's parents, Jyothibai and Sriram Nayak, that the entire nation is indebted to them, whose son had made the supreme sacrifice while defending the country.
Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Alcohol industry asks Maharashtra govt to rethink excise duty hike, calls for deliberations
Expressing concern over the increase in the excise duty on Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) by up to 50 per cent by the Maharashtra government, the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), the apex body of the Indian Alcoholic Beverage Industry, has urged the state government to reconsider the hike and hold deliberations with all stakeholders immediately. Sources in the excise department said the industry body was trying to protect its interest, but declined to comment on any possibility of a rollback. The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a hike in excise duty on IMFL, country liquor, and imported alcohol. The decision is expected to raise the state's annual excise collection by approximately Rs 14,000 crore as the prices of IMFL and premium foreign liquor brands are likely to increase by 50-80 per cent. The CIABC claimed that while the intent behind the proposed hike may be to enhance revenue collections by Rs 14,000 crore, the actual outcome may be contrary–driven by declining sales, rising illicit trade, and border leakages. The long-term impact could be deeply detrimental, not only for industry and employment, but also for public safety and overall state revenues. Stating that the CIABC had already written to the Maharashtra government urging it to start a consultative process with all stakeholders before releasing any final gazette notification, Anant S Iyer, Director-General, CIABC, said the hike in excise duty was projected to push maximum retail prices up by as much as 85 per cent, a step that could severely disrupt the market, erode the competitiveness of national brands, and jeopardise the availability of legitimate alcoholic beverages in the state. 'Such an unprecedented escalation in duties poses a serious deterrence to consumer access of established and reputed brands, compelling a shift toward lower-category products. This poses a serious threat to the stability of the IMFL industry in the state…such a move will have a far-reaching adverse impact,' Iyer said. He warned that higher MRPs often create a vacuum filled by illegal operators. The IMFL industry contributes approximately 60 per cent of the total excise revenue of the state.
New Indian Express
21 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Prove ‘Talliki Vandanam' allegation or resign as MLA: Savitha to Jagan
VIJAYAWADA: BC Welfare Minister S Savitha has challenged YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, stating that she is willing to resign from her Ministerial post and MLA seat if they can prove their allegations that funds from the Talliki Vandanam scheme are being misappropriated by HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh. Speaking at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri on Saturday, Savitha questioned whether Jagan would also resign from his Pulivendula MLA post if the claims were unproven. Highlighting the success of the scheme, she emphasised that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had fulfilled his promise of providing Talliki Vandanam financial assistance to mothers without restricting benefits to a single student per family. 'Our government honoured its commitment, and both mothers and students are happy. A total of Rs 8,745 crore is being deposited into the accounts of mothers under Talliki Vandanam. The efforts of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and HRD Minister Lokesh were instrumental in implementing the scheme,' she added.
