Onion price, SCS part of BJD counter-attack

The Monsoon Session of Odisha Assembly beginning Tuesday is likely to be stormy as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) would counter the Opposition onslaught by raising several issues, including demand for special category status (SCS) for Odisha, onion export by the Centre triggering rise in its price and delay in revision of royalty of minerals.

Speaking to reporters after the BJD Legislature Party (BJDLP) meeting, CM Naveen Patnaik said his party would also oppose the food bill. The Congress, however, is readying itself to counter the BJD.

“What was the Chief Minister doing for the last 13 years?” Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said in response to the BJD’s decision to raise the SCS demand for Odisha. Naveen had served as a Union minister and also chief minister when the NDA was in power at the Centre, Singh said and sought to know why he failed to raise the issue then.

Singh said the Congress focus would be on chit fund scam, deteriorating law and order situation and neglect of farm sector and farmers during the session.