Opposition Congress criticised the State Government in the Assembly on Monday for announcing policy decisions when the House is in session without taking the opposition into confidence.
Raising the issue during the zero hour, Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan said the Government has brought some changes in its excise policy. There will be e-auction of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country spirit (CS) shops. Even the outstill shops will be settled through e-auction from the 2014-15 financial year, he said.
But the Government issued notification in this regard without announcing it in the Assembly, he said.
Besides, there was hike in the power tariff, Harichandan said and added that the Minister did not give a statement in the House in this regard. Describing the Government as anti-poor, Harichandan said the beneficiaries under the Kutir Jyoti scheme will now have to pay Rs 65 per month for using power instead of Rs 60.
The hike in power tariff is the gift of the Government for the people of Odisha before the Utkal Divas, Harichandan said and added that he has brought a privilege notice in this regard.
Alleging that the State Government has lowered the dignity of the House by not taking the Opposition into confidence while announcing important policy matters outside the House, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh requested the Speaker to direct the Government to mend its ways.
Speaker Pradip Amat said he has received the privilege notice and is examining it.