Search the Internet           Tips

Budget, not starvation deaths,
is Orissa govt's priority

Recent developments in the Orissa assembly indicate that Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government led by Naveen Patnaik does not give top priority to the issue of starvation deaths in drought-hit areas of the state.

None other than Revenue Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan said that the heavens would not fall if the issue were not to be discussed immediately.

The state assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Thursday with the opposition demanding a discussion on the starvation deaths.

The main opposition Congress wanted to expose the government's failure to tackle the drought and, hence, Leader of the Opposition Ramakant Mishra demanded the issue be accorded priority.

Interestingly, when on Thursday Speaker Sarat Kar ruled that the discussion on the budget would be taken up on Friday and on starvation deaths on Monday next, two legislators of the ruling coalition, one each from the BJD and the BJP, supported the Congress demand.

Prafulla Ghadei (BJD) and Balgopal Mishra (BJP) said no issue was more important than that of starvation deaths. "What can be more important than starvation deaths," said Ghadei.

Mishra told rediff.com, "We had demanded a discussion on Thursday itself because people from the affected areas were migrating to the neighbouring states in large numbers due to the state government's apathy."

Senior Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly Santosh Singh Saluja alleged that five people had already died of starvation in Nuapara district and warned there would be many more hunger deaths unless the government takes immediate steps to tackle the crisis.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report