Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi hit back Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik for labelling the current BJP government as a “name changer” and “jumla sarkaar.”
During a debate on the 2024-25 budget in the Assembly, Shri Majhi defended the budget, stating it would pave the way for a developed Odisha by 2036, marking the state’s centenary.
Amid a walkout by both opposition BJD and the Congress members, the Chief Minister said that the Patnaik government was actually “jumla sarkaar” as it had formulated schemes to benefit the party’s vote bank, while this year’s budget is a “people’s budget” which signifies Odia Asmita.
He asserted that the budget, which was presented on July 25, was in fact, “game changer” and not ‘jumla’ as alleged by Patnaik.
“The budget will lay the foundation for the establishment of ‘Viksit Odisha’ by 2036, the year the state completes 100 years of its formation,” he said.
Referring to the BJD president’s father and former CM Biju Patnaik, after whom most of the schemes of the previous government were named, Shri Majhi asked what was wrong if the BJP dispensation renamed some schemes after some other legendary figures of the state.
“If all schemes are named after one person, then it will be an injustice to other legendary figures and will hurt Odisha’s pride as well,” Shri Majhi said.
He cited an example where his government renamed the Chief Minister’s Power Development Programme to Mukhya Mantri Shakti Vikas Yojana.
CM Shri Majhi defended this change, stating it was merely translating the scheme’s name from English to Odia. He stressed that many individuals have significantly contributed to Odia language, history, culture, freedom struggle, and state formation.
“What is wrong in changing the name of such a scheme?” he questioned, adding his government has only renamed the scheme from English to Odia.
He said that many sons of the soil have contributed significantly to Odia language, history, culture, freedom struggle and creation of a separate state.
“So, to remember the contribution of these great sons, why is it wrong to name some schemes after them?” he asked.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came during a heated debate on the general discussion on the 2024-25 budget. He firmly stated that the budget aims to establish a developed Odisha by 2036, aligning with the state’s 100th year of formation.