CM statement sought on 'lavish' spending on Make-In-Odisha

Opposition Congress and BJP on Saturday demanded a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the 'lavish' spending by the State Government on the Make-In-Odisha (MIO) conclave while more than 10

BHUBANESWAR: Opposition Congress and BJP on Saturday demanded a statement from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on the 'lavish' spending by the State Government on the Make-In-Odisha (MIO) conclave while more than 100 children have died due to Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Malkangiri district.

Raising the issue during zero hour in the Assembly, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati wanted to know how much the Government has spent on organising the MIO conclave. He, however, clarified that Congress is not against industrialisation of the State.

"The Government spent lavishly to organise the conclave while poor people who lost their children to JE are denied any assistance," Bahinipati alleged adding that his party demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue. Besides Bahinipati, Congress members Prafulla Majhi, Naba Das, Chandrasekhar Majhi, Krushna Chandra Sagaria and Bhujabal Majhi criticised the State Government for holding the MIO conclave when children are dying in Malkangiri. 

"The State Government is answerable for this. While Jeypore paper mill is defunct and cottage industries in Koraput are closed for years, the Government is creating false hopes of industrial growth," said Prafulla Majhi. BJP member Pradip Purohit described the MIO as a publicity stunt of the BJD Government.
Ruling BJD member Prafulla Samal defended the Government and claimed that MIO was the State's first mega business meet and this would help Odisha to grow industrially.

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