The right to democratic protest is under grave threat in #Odisha. Today, the @bjd_odisha exercised its constitutional right to hold a peaceful demonstration, protesting the tragic death of a 20-year-old girl student--a victim of systemic apathy and sheer betrayal.
As BJD leaders marched in a disciplined manner towards Lok Seva Bhawan, the police unhesitatingly used water cannons to disperse the peaceful crowd. Shockingly, they even fired rubber bullets without any provocation.
I strongly condemn the heavy-handed tactics employed by the police and the Government to sabotage the BJD’s peaceful march. The police acted in a blatantly partisan manner, rushing to fire rubber bullets when there was absolutely no justification for such excessive force.
Just a few days ago, a senior IPS officer was caught on camera near the Chief Minister’s residence instructing his force to break the legs of protesters and promising awards to those who achieved this feat. Today, the legs of two ex Ministers have been broken, probably needing surgery. Other senior leaders of BJD, a lady Rajya Sabha member, and several party workers have been brutally hit by the police. Clearly, the Government owes an explanation for this kind of a direction.
The BJD will continue its relentless fight undeterred, until justice is served for the FM College girl student who lost her life tragically. Neither water cannons nor rubber bullets can weaken our resolve.
Let it be clear: no force can stifle our commitment to stand up for justice and uphold the democratic rights of the people of #Odisha.
Shame on you and shame on your cheap politics. This is your true colour, this is exactly what this so called party does! Your downfall is near Mister #JayanarayanMishra#BJP
Congratulations to the BJP Government on presenting a new budget. The Double Engine BJP Government, which was supposed to take #Odisha forward seems to be now going in reverse direction. Odisha which was known for transformation earlier is now known only for changing name and colour.
During Biju Janata Dal Government, Odisha always remained a high growth state. It helped millions escape poverty - a fact noted by many central institutions. But the Double Engine Government has brought down the growth rate from 10 percent to 8 percent this year.
In real terms, the budget has shrunk compared to last year. When we take into account the inflation, the Budget increase from 2.77 lakh crores to 2.90 lakh crores represents a smaller real number compared to last Budget. This indicates that the government has no idea about how to expand the revenue base of the state.
Under the Double Engine Government, the open market loan burden of Odisha has risen beyond 46 thousand crores this year. The per-capita loan burden is growing every year. This will be a drain on the state’s finances and leave little money for development and welfare schemes.
BJP formed Government by promising people that Double Engine Government will bring in double benefit. But it turned out to be a double misery. The fund from Central Government in the form of Grant in Aid has not increased from previous years.
This BJP Government should thank Biju Janata Dal Government for the robust fiscal health it got as a legacy. It is able to at least earmark funds for the development projects without depending on handouts from Central Government which is evident from the fact that more than half of the budget is supported by Odisha’s own tax revenue that is State’s Own Tax, State’s Own Non-Tax and Shared Tax.
This year’s budget has mentioned about Comprehensive City Road Decongestion Plan and plan to decongest #Bhubaneswar traffic. But the Double Engine Government has reduced the allocation for Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project. How does Renaming “Skilled in Odisha” to “Skilled for the World” help the youth of Odisha? Rather, it is an admission of the fact that the Government cannot create enough jobs in Odisha itself.
Our #MissionShakti mothers are sitting on protest pressing for their genuine demands. BJP Government has promised twenty-five lakh Lakhpati Didis by the year 2027. I had demanded to submit the list of Lakhpati Didis during my last speech on Budget. Instead of sharing the list in the house, the allocation for #MissionShakti has been reduced.
The budget brings dozens of slogans and catch phrases to avoid public focus on real issues confronting the people of Odisha. I would conclude with the popular saying that ‘ବସ୍ତାନି ଭାରି କିନ୍ତୁ ପାଠ ଘର ଶୂନ’.
Dear Union MoS Shri @DrJitendraSingh ji. Request you to personally intervene for continuation of @UNESCO Kalinga Prize and honour Odia identity and pride associated with it. #KalingaPrize is not just a symbol of #OdiaPride, it had set a legacy for Independent India in the comity of nations globally.
#KalingaPrize was possible with generous contribution of £1,000 to UNESCO from Kalinga Foundation, in which Biju Babu was founder President. After successful completion of 50 years of UNESCO Kalinga Prize, it was decided in 2002, when Late Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister, that the GoI, Govt of Odisha and Kalinga Foundation Trust would share the expenses of the prize. Pained to learn that Ministry of Science and Technology has decided to stop supporting the prize.
Biju Babu had made huge effort to travel all the way to Paris to negotiate with UNESCO to set up an international prize for popularisation of science. This foresight and courage of Biju Patnaik has been inspiration for generations of Odias. Biju Babu’s love for this land epitomised in naming the award after ‘Kalinga’, which has always lifted the spirit of people of Odisha. Kalinga Prize is not just an award, but it is a great legacy which people of #Odisha are proud of and identify with.