Odisha Assembly Erupts Over Appropriation Bill Debate | BJP vs Opposition
The Odisha Assembly witnessed a stormy debate on the Appropriation Bill as opposition parties launched scathing attacks on the BJP government’s fiscal management and social policies.
Legislators from the BJD and Congress accused the administration of expanding the budget through loans while failing to utilise funds effectively.
BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo criticised the government for poor financial planning and highlighted rising crimes against women, citing incidents such as the Soumyashree suicide and the Gopalpur gang rape. He warned that Odisha now reports nearly 15 rape cases daily, creating widespread fear among women.
Congress MLA Rama Chandra Kadam raised concerns about underspending in the annual budget and questioned how the supplementary budget would be managed.
He pointed to shortages of doctors and teachers and alleged that tribal rights were being ignored due to mining projects.
Defending the government, BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy reminded the House of the BJD’s 24-year rule, accusing the party of broken promises on cold storage, drinking water supply, farmer bonuses, and youth employment.
He argued that voters had already rejected the BJD and predicted no return to power for decades.
Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya described the budget as “an illusion,” accusing the BJP of mismanaging a strong economy handed over to it. He cited falling GST collections and declining mining revenue as evidence of fiscal instability.
The heated exchanges revealed deep political divisions, with opposition parties demanding accountability and the BJP countering by pointing to the failures of its predecessors.
