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Naveen Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha and BJD President, today criticised the new BJP Government, by labelling it as ‘name-changer’ and ‘colour-changer’ instead of a ‘game-changer’.
Assuming the role of Leader of Opposition for the first time, Patnaik targeted the newly-established Mohan Majhi Government with a pointed critique during the budget discussion for altering the names of up to 45 schemes established by his government.
The Majhi-led government in Odisha, which recently presented the annual budget, has renamed several schemes and programs previously named after the late Chief Minister Biju Patnaik. This move has sparked significant backlash from various sectors, including the opposition BJD and Congress.
“This government has renamed 45 schemes. The BJP claimed their government would be a game-changer, but it has merely become a ‘name-changer,’” remarked Patnaik, deriding the Majhi Government during the assembly’s general discussion on the annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
He noted that over 80 per cent of the schemes introduced by the previous BJD government are being continued, mocking the BJP’s promise of change, or ‘Paribartan.’
“Reviewing the budget documents, it’s clear that ‘paribartan’ has occurred, as this budget repeats 80 percent of our initiatives,” he quipped. He emphasized that this reflects the durability, people-oriented nature, and forward-thinking design of the BJD government’s schemes.
He also questioned the government’s pledge to provide Rs 50,000 to every woman under the Subhadra scheme, highlighting that the initiative would need Rs 1 lakh crore to reach 2 crore female beneficiaries.
“The budget allocates a mere Rs 10,000 crore, covering less than ten per cent of Odisha’s women. What about the other one crore eighty lakh women?” the BJD Supremo inquired.
Highlighting the gap between promises and implementation, Patnaik remarked that the budgetary allocation for the social security pension scheme is insufficient to cover all elderly beneficiaries with the increased pension of Rs 3,000 per month.
With approximately 50 lakh pensioners in the state, only about one lakh will benefit from the budget allocation, Patnaik observed.
“You (CM Majhi) have stated in your budget that senior citizens over 80 years and individuals with 80 per cent or more disability will receive the increased pension. What about the other 49 lakh pensioners aged 60 to 80, including widows, persons with disabilities, and the distressed? Around Rs 21,000 crore per year is required to fulfill this promise,” he asserted.
Similarly, former CM Patnaik voiced concerns over the government’s declaration to raise the minimum support price of paddy per quintal to Rs 3,100.
“The budget allocation is insufficient to support even 30 per cent of the farmers. How do you intend to assist the remaining lakhs of farmers in Odisha?” Patnaik questioned.
Referring to the inadequate budget, Patnaik labelled the BJP’s electoral promises of free electricity and making 25 lakh women ‘Lakhpati Didis’ by 2027, within three years, as unrealistic.
“Your party, the BJP, is known for ‘Jumla’, but this is a cruel joke on the people of Odisha who were promised a developed state,” he accused.
Patnaik emphasised that the BJP made significant pledges to secure election victory, stating, “If you (BJP) fail to deliver on your promises to the people, your manifesto and so-called guarantee will amount to nothing but lies.”
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