As the State Assembly begins from Thursday after a brief recess, the BJD and the Opposition Congress brace up for a long session with the latter planning to corner the State Government over several issues.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh said besides other issues, the continued neglect of the farm sector and farmers by the State Government will top the agenda of the Congress in the House. Criticising the State Government for ignoring the demand for payment of bonus to the farmers during procurement, Singh said the Chhattisgarh Government, in its budget for 2013-14, has announced a bonus of `270 per quintal of paddy.
However, the State Government has completely ignored this demand of the farmers for long, Singh said, adding that the Opposition will continue to raise the issue in the House. On the multicrore mining scam, he said the Opposition will demand that the issue should be deliberated.
Besides, the deteriorating law and order situation in the State with an emphasis on the rising atrocities against women will also be raised by the Opposition.
Stating that the Government has failed to keep its promise of peaceful industrialisation of the State, Singh said the ongoing tension in the Posco region has proved that force has been applied for land acquisition.
Singh also criticised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for announcing a hike in the monthly honorarium and sitting fee of elected panchayatiraj representatives on Tuesday outside the Assembly when it is in session. Alleging that Naveen is playing politics keeping an eye on 2014 polls, Singh said the Congress has been demanding this in and outside the House for a long time.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das said the State Government is ready for any discussion. He, however, said demand for grants of different departments will be passed during the second half of the session.