TV
While speaking at the Collectors’ Conference in Bhubaneswar, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday cited the misbehaviour that was once meted out to him by a police officer in Keonjhar. The incident had taken place a couple of months prior to the conduct of the 2024 elections.
Recalling the incident, CM Mohan Majhi said that he had to rush to the spot after getting information that locals had blocked NH 20 over drinking water issues.
“I had to rush to the spot and when I went to the police station and the process was on to resolve the issue, the IIC shouted at me and said ‘get out’. I had faced such a situation. Who had pressurised the IIC for which he said get out? Do candidates lack the right to visit a police station? The IIC said that I did not have the right to come to police station,” recalled CM Majhi.
The CM further said that the incident occurred one month prior to BJP forming government in the state.
“With Lord Jagannath’s blessing, I became the CM. I could easily imagine what would be the condition of the concerned IIC. I forgave him as I believed that he had done it at the behest of someone’s pressure. What was the definition of ‘Ama Thana’ in the previous government’s tenure? Whenever a common man is visiting a police station, he/she should be treated properly by the staff at the help desk. When a person says that he has come to lodge an FIR, they should be taken to senior official for appropriate action,” said CM Majhi.
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The CM further said that a lot of practice, which was being followed in the previous government, will no longer work. Adequate powers have been given to officials and hence they should help subordinate staff and take stern action against those involved in illegal smuggling of minor minerals in different parts of the state, he said.
Illegal sale of liquor is another area of concern. The State government has zero tolerance towards smuggling of illegal liquor and the enforcement activities should continue and power has been given to excise officials.
“Around 92 percent farmers are small and marginal farmers but there cannot be overall development in their income as there is need to encourage poultry and other aspects. This can happen if the concerned departments work in convergence mode. Several projects are not able to start due to lack of coordination between departments. As seeing is believing, I urge Collectors to undertake field visits and check status of the schemes particularly in schools, anganwadi centres, police stations and hospitals. The officials should be cautious in discharging their duties properly,” he added.
