By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has congratulations to the BJP Government of Odisha on presenting another budget.
‘It is quite disappointing that the Double Engine Government is taking Odisha in reverse direction after promising moon for the people of Odisha. Welcome to the new era where every newborn child in Odisha will be welcomed with a per-capita loan burden of nearly 30,000 rupees,” he said.
He said’ When BJD Govt assumed office, Odisha’s revenues were used to repay loans and service debts, leaving very little funds available for development projects or people’s welfare. With years of meticulous planning and fiscal prudence, we reduced the loan burden drastically. Financially we were the best managed state in country,”.
‘But the BJP Government is well on its course to make Odisha a bankrupt state soon. The total debt is soon going to touch 1,30,000 crore rupees. This will strain Odisha’s finances, derail state’s development momentum and welfare of the people, he said.
‘People of Odisha hoped that the Double Engine will bring double benefit-Grant-In-Aid from Centre will double. But unfortunately, Central remittances to Odisha are shrinking year after year-especially during last two years, Patnaik said.
Glad that Hon’ble Chief Minister has given tribute to the farmers in this speech. But the budget has fallen short in addressing the real issues of farmers. All grand promises without any focus on the development of the state. In short: The budget is like a full menu in an empty kitchen.
