Opposition boycott Governor's address in Orissa Assembly

Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 (UNI) The Opposition parties in Orissa Assembly boycotted Governor M C Bhandare's address to the House on the opening day of the budget session here today stating that the speech had not reflected the true pictures of the state.

Minutes after the Governor started reading out his speech, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader J B Patnaik stood up and read out a written speech stating that the Governor's speech was ''far from reality and full of false promises''.

''It hides all the misdeeds of the government and eulogises the so called success,''Mr Pattnaik said.

He also alleged that the speech did not reflect the deteriorating law and order situation, failure in handling the Kandhamal communal violence, corruption in Orissa Health Systems, Development projects and NREGP in the state besides miserable condition of the Public Distribution System.

Mr Pattnaik also alleged that the government had forced the farmers to commit suicide for non-payment of loans while giving relief to the tune of Rs 2300 crore to an industrialist.

After the Congress leader finished reading out his speech, his party colleagues along with the members of OGP staged a walk out.

A minute later, the members of the JMM, CPI,CPI-M and Independent member Sambunath Naik (Ind) also walked out in protest.

Soon after the Governor left the Assembly, the Opposition entered the House and participated in a obituary reference moved by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

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