The Opposition Congress and BJP on Tuesday criticised the State Government for curtailing the sitting days of the Assembly to avoid criticism and demanded that it should be extended by a day to take up discussion on Uliburu mining scam.
Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said the monsoon session was convened for only seven days. Alleging that the State Government is curtailing the Assembly session deliberately, Singh said 23 sitting days are required to reach the mandatory 60 days in a year. Singh said several important issues, including the death of nine newborn babies at VSS Medical in Burla on July 20, could not be discussed as the session was only for seven days. Stating that health services do not exist in tribal-dominated inaccessible areas, Singh said shortage of doctors has led to this sorry state of affairs.
K V Singhdeo (BJP) demanded that the House session should be extended by one day for discussion on Uliburu mining scam. Singhdeo said the BJP had given notice for discussion on the scam on the first day of the session, but it was not allowed.
Santosh Singh Saluja (Cong) also demanded that the Assembly session should be extended to discuss the Uliburu mining scam.